The Ministry of Defense explained how a one-time disability allowance will be calculated for military personnel in 2026
The system of one-time payments to military personnel after injury, trauma, contusion, mutilation or illness is based on several key elements: the causal relationship of the injury, the decision of the authorized body, the status of the person at the time of service and the budget indicator on which the final amount depends. Due to changes in state social standards, such payments are recalculated annually on a new basis, so the amount of assistance in 2026 is already determined by the updated subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine explained this mechanism so that military personnel and those discharged from service could understand what amounts they are entitled to and in what order the funds are allocated.
What are the norms for granting assistance?
The Ministry of Defense published explanations regarding the calculation and payment of a one-time cash benefit to military personnel in the event of disability or partial loss of work capacity. The department clarified that the procedure and amounts of these payments in 2026 are determined taking into account the updated state budget indicators, which directly affect the final amounts.
The basis for granting a one-time cash benefit is the decision of the Expert Team for assessing the daily functioning of a person. The Ministry of Defense referred to Article 16 of the Law of Ukraine “On Social and Legal Protection of Military Personnel and Members of Their Families”, as well as to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of December 25, 2013 No. 975, which regulates the payment procedure.
To determine the amount, not only the established disability group or percentage of disability is important, but also the cause of such a condition. One scale is valid in cases related to the defense of the Motherland or the performance of military service duties during hostilities, the other – in cases related to service due to illness or an accident not directly related to hostilities.
What indicator was taken as a basis in 2026
The Ministry of Defense noted that the amount of the benefit is tied to the subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons as of January 1 of the year in which the person was diagnosed with disability. According to the Law on the State Budget for 2026, this indicator is 3,328 hryvnias.
Due to such a tie, all payments are calculated as a multiple of the subsistence minimum. The total amount received by a serviceman after establishing a disability group or determining the percentage of disability depends on the number of such multiples.
What amounts are provided in case of combat disability
The largest payments are established for cases in which the disability is related to the defense of the Motherland or the performance of military service duties, in particular after injury, contusion, trauma or mutilation. According to the Ministry of Defense, in 2026 the amount of one-time assistance in such cases is:
for group I – 400 times the subsistence minimum, i.e. 1,331,200 hryvnias;
for group II – 300 times the subsistence minimum, i.e. 998,400 hryvnias;
for group III – 250 times the subsistence minimum, i.e. 832,000 hryvnias.
This scale applies to cases in which a causal connection between health damage and military service is established through participation in the defense of the state or the performance of official duties in appropriate conditions.
Separately, the Ministry of Defense has indicated the amounts for cases in which disability is associated with military service due to illness or an accident that is not directly related to combat operations. For such situations, the following amounts of assistance are indicated in the explanation:
for group I – 399,360 hryvnias;
for group II – 299,520 hryvnias;
for group III – 232,960 hryvnias.
These amounts correspond to payments in the amount of 120, 90 and 70 times the subsistence minimum. The same approach, as specified in the department, is applied to military servicemen, reservists and those subject to military service who have been called up for a meeting.
How is disability benefit determined without establishing disability?
As explained by the Ministry of Defense, a separate procedure applies to cases in which, based on the results of an assessment of a person’s daily functioning, a percentage of disability is established without determining a disability group. If such a condition is related to the defense of the Motherland or the performance of military service duties, the amount is calculated in proportion to the established percentage.
For military personnel under contract and mobilized by the base, the basis for such a calculation is 70 times the subsistence minimum, i.e. 232,960 hryvnias. For conscripts, reservists and those subject to military service called up for a meeting, the basis is 50 times the subsistence minimum, i.e. 166,400 hryvnias.
The mechanism in such cases is quite simple: a person receives the percentage of the base amount that is established based on the results of the assessment. The Ministry of Defense gave an example for contract soldiers and mobilized soldiers: if 20% disability is determined, the lump-sum benefit will be 46,592 hryvnias.
The Ministry of Defense separately drew attention to cases in which, after a re-examination, a higher disability group is established for a serviceman or the causal link of the injury is changed. In such a situation, the difference between the new amount and the one that the person already received earlier is paid.
During such recalculation, the subsistence minimum that was in effect on January 1 of the year of the initial disability determination is taken into account. Because of this, the supplement is calculated not according to an arbitrary scheme, but according to a clearly defined budget indicator tied to the first decision on disability.
Where to apply for payments
The procedure for applying depends on whether the person is in service at the time of applying for the benefit. Active servicemen should contact their military unit. Those who have already been discharged from service submit documents through territorial recruitment and social support centers.
This distribution is explained by the fact that for active military personnel, the initial registration of documents, confirmation of service circumstances, and transfer of materials are carried out through the military unit, while after discharge, this function is performed by territorial centers.
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the establishment of disability does not completely close the issue of payments, since in the event of deterioration of health and an increase in the group during the review, the law guarantees the right to additional payment of the difference. Therefore, knowledge of the current amounts, the legal basis for accrual and the rules for recalculation is of practical importance for every serviceman who is undergoing the procedure for obtaining assistance.
The published explanation actually brings together all the main elements of this mechanism into one system: the decision of the Expert Team, binding to the subsistence minimum, different scales of payments depending on the causal connection, proportional calculation in case of partial loss of work capacity, and the procedure for applying for those who are serving and for those who have already been discharged. Thanks to this, it becomes clear how the amount of a one-time cash benefit is formed in 2026 and under what conditions a serviceman can count on additional payment after a re-review of his health status.
