Due to complicated bureaucratic procedures and a lack of information, many servicemen do not apply for the financial payments they are entitled to or do not contest wrongful denials. Lawyers from the public organization “Princip” have analyzed the most common myths that hinder the defenders of Ukraine from receiving the financial assistance they deserve.
This is reported by Finway
Payments Without a Military Medical Commission Conclusion and Rights of Military Personnel Outside Service
The first myth concerns the requirement of a conclusion from the Military Medical Commission (VLC) for receiving payments. In fact, a certificate with a detailed explanation of the circumstances of the injury, stating that the injury was received “in connection with the Defense of the Motherland,” is sufficient for the allocation of financial assistance. A VLC conclusion is only necessary in the absence of such a certificate or for arranging long-term treatment after a serious injury (more than four months).
The second myth is that military personnel outside service are not entitled to combat payments. Lawyers emphasize: if an injured soldier is undergoing treatment and has been moved outside service (even for more than two months), he retains the right to receive 100,000 hryvnias and his salary.
Additional Payments and the Procedure for Their Arrangement
Another widespread myth is that only severely injured individuals can receive additional rewards. In reality, all military personnel who are undergoing inpatient treatment, regardless of the severity of their injuries, are entitled to 100,000 hryvnias. Recognition of an injury as severe only affects the payment of rewards if the soldier is on leave for treatment.
“If there was a leave of absence for health reasons, annual leave, or a return to service between hospitalization periods, the additional payment to the soldier is restored after the treatment resumes.”
The fourth myth is that combat payments are not issued if there was a break in treatment after an injury. Lawyers stress: even if there was a leave or return to service after hospitalization, payments are resumed once treatment is resumed.
It is also a misconception that combat payments are only allocated during the first four months of treatment. Soldiers can receive them for up to 12 months; however, after four months of continuous hospitalization, a new VLC conclusion must be arranged and submitted to the military unit. For this, a report should be written requesting a recalculation, payment of monetary support, and additional rewards, along with a certificate of the circumstances of the injury and medical documents.
If a soldier does not remember which payments he has already received, he can request a certificate of all allocations from his military unit through a report.
Another myth is that it is better to arrange assistance after being discharged from service. In fact, if a disability or loss of capacity is established, documents for a one-time monetary assistance (OGD) can be submitted immediately, without waiting for discharge.
The last myth concerns the amounts of salary outside service. During the first two months after being transferred outside service, servicemen receive their full salary (starting from 20,000 hryvnias). Subsequently, payments consist of the salary according to rank and bonuses for years of service (about 600–800 hryvnias per month). Military personnel who are no longer undergoing inpatient treatment but have a VLC conclusion about limited fitness for service or unfitness with re-examination also receive the full monthly salary during the first two months, and thereafter – the salary according to rank, bonuses for years of service, and an additional reward of 20,100 hryvnias.