After the outbreak of a full-scale war in Ukraine, many Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes, escaping danger and seeking protection in other European countries. Lithuania has become one of the countries that actively hosts Ukrainian refugees, providing them with support and integration opportunities. Lithuanian society and the government have demonstrated their willingness to help Ukrainians by creating conditions for their temporary residence and support. One of the important steps taken to help newcomers was the decision of the Lithuanian government to provide one-time financial payments to support refugees during the most difficult period of adaptation.
One-time financial support for newly arrived Ukrainians
Lithuania has announced a decision to provide one-time payments of EUR 176 for Ukrainian refugees arriving in the country. This is reported by LRT with reference to the Vilnius office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
According to the IOM Vilnius Office, this assistance is provided for newly arrived Ukrainians who crossed the external border of the European Union from Ukraine no earlier than 40 days ago. Although the number of Ukrainians arriving in Lithuania is decreasing, the country still receives new refugees every week who need immediate financial support.
IOM Lithuania’s Chief of Mission, Eitvydas Bingialis, said that this financial assistance is aimed at the most vulnerable categories of refugees from Ukraine. The purpose of the payment is to cover the basic needs of people who have fled their homes and found themselves in another country without a stable financial basis.
Criteria and conditions for receiving the payment
To receive financial support, Ukrainian refugees need to register with the Lithuanian Department of Migration and obtain a temporary residence permit. In addition, there are certain criteria for determining eligibility:
- Single parents or guardians with children – persons who arrived in Lithuania with one or more children under the age of 18 are eligible for assistance.
- Large families – financial support is provided to families with three or more children under the age of 18.
- Families with children with special needs – families with children with disabilities under the age of 18 will receive support, and assistance will also be provided to adult family members with special needs.
- Pregnant women – women who are expecting a child will receive a one-off payment to cover their immediate needs.
- Persons over 60 years of age – for the elderly, this assistance is an important resource to help cover their initial living expenses in Lithuania.
- Persons with disabilities – refugees with special needs can count on support to facilitate their resettlement and adaptation.
Benefits and importance of financial assistance
For many newly arrived refugees, the one-time payment of 176 euros becomes an important source of financial support in a new country. These funds help to provide the most basic necessities, such as food, basic necessities, personal hygiene products, etc. Lithuania seeks to provide Ukrainians with the opportunity to adapt by focusing on solving domestic and social problems rather than on finding urgent financial resources.
Although a significant number of Ukrainian refugees in Lithuania already have stable employment (almost 62% are employed), adaptation remains a difficult process for newcomers. One-time financial support helps them to focus on other aspects of adaptation, such as learning the language, finding a job, and enrolling their children in schools and kindergartens. In particular, the active efforts of local NGOs and volunteers contribute to the integration of Ukrainians into Lithuanian society by conducting language courses, cultural events and providing psychological support to those who need it.
Lithuania’s decision to provide one-time financial assistance to newly arrived Ukrainian refugees demonstrates a high level of support and solidarity with Ukrainians in this difficult time. Lithuanian society and the state are committed to providing appropriate conditions for adaptation, which is an important step towards social integration and improving the quality of life of refugees.
