The Verkhovna Rada is considering a draft law that could significantly change the rules for providing unemployment benefits in Ukraine. Currently, the maximum amount of this benefit is equal to the minimum wage, and payments are made for a period of 90 calendar days (for individuals of pre-retirement age — up to 360 days).
This is reported by Finway
Main Innovations of Draft Law No. 14096
The draft law proposes to extend the unemployment benefit payment period by two times — from 90 to 180 calendar days. It is also suggested to increase the maximum amount of the benefit to 150% of the minimum wage. This will allow for a more flexible support system for those who have lost their jobs and previously had higher incomes and, accordingly, paid higher insurance contributions.
“This will strengthen the social protection of unemployed individuals, increase the gap between the minimum and maximum benefit amounts, and ensure a fairer unemployment benefit for those who received higher salaries and, accordingly, paid higher insurance contributions.”
Funding and the Role of the Social Insurance Fund
The document also emphasizes the need to return the management of the Social Insurance Fund’s authority to review and approve the annual budget. During the state of war, these functions were transferred to the government, which, as noted in the explanatory note, “has actually led to a significant distortion in the Fund’s expenditures.”
The authors of the draft law indicate that over the past two years, about 15 billion UAH has been withdrawn from the Fund’s budget to the state budget. A significant portion of insurance contributions is directed towards grants, support for entrepreneurship, and various compensations for employers. In 2024, with total revenues of the Fund at 27.3 billion UAH, only 2.1 billion UAH (7.6% of all funds) is allocated directly for unemployment benefits and funeral assistance, while in 2025, 6.3 billion UAH is planned for these payments, which constitutes 28% of revenues.