The Verkhovna Rada has supported in the first reading draft law No. 15094, which proposes the creation of basic social assistance. The final approval of the document is still ahead, as it must go through a second reading.
This is reported by Finway
Essence of Basic Social Assistance
The Ministry of Social Policy has confirmed that the draft law will be adopted. According to its provisions, the new social assistance is not an additional payment but combines several existing types of state support. In particular, it will replace assistance for low-income families, payments to single mothers, large families, temporary assistance for children whose parents evade alimony or whose whereabouts are unknown, as well as support for individuals who are not entitled to a pension and persons with disabilities. After the transition to basic social assistance, all these payments will be automatically canceled, as they are already included in the new system.
“The new payment is not additional but consolidated. It will replace several existing types of support — assistance for low-income families, payments to single mothers and large families, temporary assistance for children whose parents evade alimony or whose place of residence is unknown, as well as assistance for individuals without pension rights and persons with disabilities.”
Calculation and Procedure for Receiving Basic Assistance
The amount of basic social assistance is determined as the difference between the established basic level and the average monthly income of the family for the last quarter. The minimum payment amount is 3,328 hryvnias, which corresponds to the subsistence minimum for a working-age person. Each year, the basic amount of the payment will be approved in the state budget law, and it cannot be lower than the subsistence minimum determined as of January 1 of the relevant year.
To receive basic assistance, two applications must be submitted. The first is a declaration of intent to apply for the payment, indicating the personal data of the applicant and information about all family members. If the family agrees with the calculated amount, a statement for the appointment of assistance is signed. It can be submitted by one family representative, but all adult recipients must sign it.
Reasons for refusal to grant assistance may include the presence of a large amount of real estate or expensive purchases that indicate income exceeding the declared amount.