Ukraine's Government Streamlines Financial Support for Families with Children

Reforms to Child and Family Benefit Payments

According to Пенсії (RSS): The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has approved measures to simplify and expand several key child benefit programs. These reforms are designed to make it easier for parents to access financial support, covering assistance related to pregnancy and childbirth, childcare for children under one year old, and the 'eYasla' benefit. This move is part of ongoing efforts to modernize the country's social safety net.

A significant change extends the application window for the under-one-year childcare benefit; parents can now apply up to three months after the child's first birthday. Furthermore, the deadline to apply for the 'eYasla' benefit has been extended to six months after a parent returns to full-time work. A major new provision is that the 'eYasla' payment will be disbursed in a lump sum covering six months at a time, starting from the month after the child's first birthday (but no earlier than January 2026) and continuing until the child turns three.

Simplified Application Process

The application process has been made more convenient. Parents can now submit requests through service centers of the Pension Fund of Ukraine, via Administrative Service Centers (TSNAPs), or through authorized community representatives. The pregnancy and childbirth benefit can now be paid directly to a standard Diia.Card account without special restrictions. The under-one-year and 'eYasla' benefits can be received on any bank card with a designated usage mode, and the Pension Fund will open such an account through Oschadbank branches upon application.

Soon, these benefits will also be accessible through the Diia app, as the Ministry of Social Policy and the Ministry of Digital Transformation are working on the technical launch. The list of categories on which families can spend the under-one-year and 'eYasla' benefits has also been expanded. The overall goal of these changes is to reduce the financial burden on families with children and provide more accessible conditions for receiving essential payments.

These changes to the child benefit payment mechanism are a crucial step in supporting families in Ukraine, especially under conditions of economic instability. - Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine

Simplifying the application procedure and expanding access to support is expected to positively impact the financial situation of many families raising children. The adoption of new technologies, like applying through the Diia app, also signals the government's intent to modernize social services and make them more accessible to the public.