How to Apply for State Caregiver Assistance for a Seriously Ill Child

How State Assistance is Granted

According to ХВИЛЯ: The Main Department of the Pension Fund of Ukraine in the Volyn region has issued a reminder on the procedure for granting state aid to individuals caring for children with serious illnesses. A key point is that this assistance is available even before a child is formally granted disability status. The payment is equivalent to two subsistence minimums for a child of the relevant age and is provided for a six-month period per ill child. This program is part of Ukraine's social safety net, designed to support families during a child's critical medical treatment.

To continue receiving aid for a subsequent period, a new application must be submitted and the medical certificate updated within one month after the previous payment stops. If a child is granted disability status while receiving this assistance, the payment is terminated.

Conditions for Receiving Assistance

Assistance is granted in cases where a child has:

• Severe perinatal lesions of the nervous system,
• Congenital developmental defects,
• Rare orphan diseases,
• Oncological and oncohematological diseases,
• Cerebral palsy,
• Severe mental disorders,
• Type I diabetes (insulin-dependent),
• Acute or chronic kidney disease of the fourth degree,
• Severe injuries,
• A need for organ transplantation or palliative care.

Applications can be submitted both online and offline. Available submission methods include: online via the Diia portal, the web portal of the Pension Fund of Ukraine's electronic services, or the Pension Fund's mobile app. Offline applications can be submitted at Pension Fund service centers, Administrative Service Centers (ASCs), or by mailing the documents.

The required application package consists of:

• An application using the form from Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No. 765,
• The child's birth certificate,
• A document confirming the status of guardian, adopter, or foster parent,
• A medical advisory commission certificate on the child's illness, using the form established by the Ministry of Health.

This initiative by the Pension Fund of Ukraine represents a significant step in supporting families raising children with serious health conditions. It provides crucial financial aid during difficult times and underscores the importance of social support for vulnerable population groups. By making assistance available prior to a formal disability determination, it enables a more timely response to the needs of these families.