Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine confirmed the start of an experimental two-year project, the goal of which is to gradually replace the current subsistence minimum with a new mechanism — basic social assistance. The initiator of the changes was the Ministry of Social Policy.
The proposed model of social protection envisages the introduction of a fixed base amount of 4,500 hryvnias, on the basis of which the benefit will be calculated.
From July 1, 2025, the first recipients of basic social assistance will be low-income families, single mothers, large families, as well as children who are in temporary state care due to non-payment of alimony by their parents. From October, other categories will be able to join the program if they meet the specified criteria.
The amount of the payment will be determined as the difference between the basic amount for each family member and the average monthly income of the entire family. For the first person in the household, 100% of the basic amount is provided, for each subsequent member – 70%. In the case of children under 18 years of age and persons with disabilities of 1-2 groups, the full amount is charged.
For people of retirement age who do not have sufficient insurance experience to be eligible for a pension, the benefit will be determined in proportion to the length of this experience: up to 10 years — 53%, from 10 to 20 years — 62%, from 20 to 30 — 70%, over 30 years — 88%.
Financing of the initiative will be carried out from the state budget, in particular through the program of support for low-income families, as well as from additional sources permitted by law.
By July 1, 2025, the Ministry of Social Policy must complete technical preparation: improve the Unified Information System of the social sphere, create the necessary functionality for electronic banking offices, and also ensure the full functioning of accounting, monitoring, and payments within the Unified Social Register.
We will remind that in August 2024, the Minister of Social Policy, Oksana Zholnovich, reported that the government was considering the possibility of abandoning the outdated subsistence minimum in favor of a more realistic social payment. As of 2025, the current living wage, according to the state budget, is UAH 2,920 per person per month, UAH 3,028 for the able-bodied population, and UAH 2,361 for the disabled.
