New Rules Allow Families of Captured or Missing Soldiers to Claim Utility Subsidies

Families of Captured or Missing Soldiers Can Now Claim Utility Subsidies Under New Rules

According to ХВИЛЯ: Ukraine has simplified the process for families of military personnel who are prisoners of war or missing in action to transfer utility bill subsidies to their own accounts. This change, enacted by Government Resolution No. 1420, is designed to provide direct financial support to the families of defenders who have become victims of the war. The move addresses a critical need for stability as these families endure the absence of a primary breadwinner.

The subsidy can be claimed by family members who actually reside in the home for which the benefit is registered. The mechanism remains in effect until the service member is released from captivity, the official search is terminated, or their status is changed through a court decision. Payments will be recalculated starting from the month following the application to the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU). Funds are disbursed in monetary form via a bank transfer to the account of the family member who submitted the application.

Required Documents and Submission Methods

To transfer the benefit, applicants must prepare a package of documents, which includes:

• An application written in free form;
• An extract from the Unified State Register of War Veterans confirming the beneficiary's status.

Documents can be submitted in three ways:

• In person at PFU service centers, Administrative Service Centers (TSNAPs), or through authorized persons in territorial communities;
• Remotely via the electronic services web portal or the 'Pension Fund' mobile app;
• By mail, sending the document package to the address of the relevant PFU body.

The compensation system covers a full range of utility costs. This includes building and premises maintenance fees, all communal services (cold and hot water, sewerage, gas and its transportation, electricity, heating, and waste removal), as well as the purchase of solid fuel or liquefied gas for homes without centralized heating.

These new rules represent a significant step in supporting families suffering from the consequences of the ongoing conflict. By streamlining the bureaucratic process, the government aims to alleviate the financial burden on households that have lost the direct support of their loved ones. Such measures are vital for maintaining social stability during wartime and may set a precedent for future aid to other vulnerable groups affected by the crisis.