Ukraine has updated the mechanism for providing one-time financial assistance to servicemen and their families. According to the new procedure, payments will be calculated from the date of the official death record or from the date of any amendments made to it in cases of late identification of the individual, instead of the date specified in the death certificate. This rule also applies to reservists and conscripts.
This is reported by Finway
Changes in Payment Procedures for Families of the Deceased
The innovations aim to enhance fairness and transparency in the allocation of assistance, taking into account the realities of wartime. If a serviceman dies within a year after being discharged due to injuries, concussion, disability, or illness that arose during the performance of their duties, the payment will be assigned from the moment of death being recorded in the official act. Previously, this caused difficulties and confusion, as the date on the death certificate was considered the start date for payments.
In cases where the deceased’s identity was only confirmed after a significant delay, payments will now commence from the moment changes are made to the relevant act. This innovation addresses the issue where families could not receive assistance due to the lack of legal confirmation of the death.
New Powers for the Ministry of Defense and Simplification of Procedures
If a serviceman has been missing in action for a certain period and is then officially declared deceased, the right to receive financial assistance arises from the date of the official death record. This approach helps to avoid disputes and speeds up the payment process.
The goal of the update is to make the mechanism for assigning and distributing payments clearer, fairer, and more sensitive to the conditions of wartime.
Importantly, state bodies, including the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, now have the ability to independently determine the procedure for providing assistance in the event of a serviceman’s death during martial law, in agreement with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy. This will allow for quicker responses to situations and minimize delays in payments.
The reform takes into account the specifics of conducting combat operations, where documents may be missing or delayed, as well as cases where an individual has been considered missing for an extended period. Families of fallen soldiers receive clear rules and real mechanisms for obtaining financial support.