From the beginning of April, a number of changes in the field of social security, pensions, assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs), subsidies, as well as tariffs for electricity, heat, gas and water will come into force in Ukraine. They cover both pension recalculations and updating the identification procedure for payments in the temporarily occupied territories, revision of criteria for subsidies and preservation of preferential tariffs for certain categories of consumers.
Recalculation of pensions for working pensioners
In April, the Pension Fund of Ukraine will recalculate pensions for those pensioners who continued to work after the appointment or the last pension recalculation:
– if after that they acquired at least 24 months of insurance experience;
– or if the length of service is less than 24 months, but at least two years have passed since the appointment/transfer.
Recalculation is carried out automatically – there is no need to contact the territorial bodies of the Pension Fund. It will apply to pensions assigned or transferred in 2023, subject to the relevant length of service on March 1, 2025. Pensioners will receive payments in the new amounts from June, with an additional payment for the period from April 1. The recalculation does not cover persons who receive a pension for years of service and have not yet reached the age of 60.
Age allowance for pensions
In April, payments to pensioners who will turn 70, 75 or 80 during the month will increase. Those whose pension does not exceed UAH 10,340.35 will receive an allowance. The amounts of allowances will be:
– up to UAH 300 — for persons aged 70–74;
– up to UAH 456 — for persons aged 75–79;
– up to UAH 570 — for pensioners over 80 years old.
Simplification of payments for IDPs, Ukrainians abroad and on TOT
Since April, the procedure for receiving pension payments has been unified for all citizens, regardless of their place of residence. Pensioners will be able to receive pensions to an account in any Ukrainian bank, not only in Oschadbank. Simultaneously:
– persons living abroad or in temporarily occupied territories must undergo physical identification at least once a year, by December 31;
– pensioners on TOT who have not passed identification are required to carry out at least one financial transaction on their account every six months;
– citizens must confirm that they do not receive pension payments from the Russian Federation by submitting a corresponding application to the Pension Fund of Ukraine.
These measures are aimed at confirming the fact that the pension recipient lives outside the controlled territory of Ukraine.
Indexation of insurance payments
From April 1, indexed monthly insurance payments will be made for victims at work and persons entitled to payments in the event of the victim’s death. Indexation has been carried out since March 1, taking into account the coefficient of 1.115. The size of the increase depends on individual charges, the maximum surcharge is up to UAH 1,500.
IDP payments
Living allowance for internally displaced persons will continue to be paid in April. Automatic reassignment of payments for 6 months took place on March 1 — for all persons who met the criteria and were already receiving assistance. It is not necessary to apply again. The amounts of assistance remain unchanged:
– UAH 2,000 — for adults;
– UAH 3,000 — for children and persons with disabilities.
Throughout the period of assistance, social services will check compliance with the criteria. If it turns out that a person has gone abroad for more than 30 days, bought housing or transport, or his income has exceeded the established threshold, payments can be stopped.
People who apply for help for the first time can issue an IDP certificate and apply for financial support through the “Action” application.
Compensation for placement of IDPs
In April, the Pension Fund of Ukraine will continue to accept applications for compensation for free placement of IDPs. Documents can be submitted in paper or electronic form, in particular through the PFU electronic portal. The compensation amounts to UAH 450 per person placed, it is assigned for six months with automatic extension for the next six months after re-verification.
Compensation will not be paid if:
– the home owner has family ties to the IDP;
– the IDP does not live at the specified address for more than 30 days;
– inaccurate information was provided in the application or notification.
Subsidies: automatic renewal and new applications
April is the final month of the heating season. Households assigned subsidies for the non-heating period or zero subsidy will receive it automatically. Also, in March, an automatic recalculation was carried out for families whose income changed.
Certain categories of citizens need to apply for a subsidy independently in April:
– if this is the first appeal;
– if the subsidy was previously refused;
– if a person stopped receiving the subsidy and used benefits in the summer, and now wants to renew the subsidy;
– if there have been changes in the composition of the family or in the social status.
The calculation of the subsidy in April is carried out on the basis of income for the III-IV quarters of 2024. For pensioners, the pension for the month preceding the month from which the subsidy is assigned is taken into account.
Changes in the calculation of total family income
In 2025, adjustments were made to the rules for calculating total income. From now on:
– housing rental subsidy is not taken into account;
– alimony is taken into account as a part of income;
– for military personnel, the income is calculated after deducting the military levy.
Tariffs for electricity, heat, gas and water
In April, the electricity tariff remains at UAH 4.32/kWh. For consumers with electric heating — a preferential tariff of UAH 2.64/kWh up to 2,000 kWh per month is valid until the end of the heating season. Residents of buildings without gas supply or with problematic heat supply also use this discount.
In Kyiv, the tariff for heat from KP “Kyivteploenergo” remains unchanged – UAH 1,654.41/Gcal. The moratorium on raising tariffs for gas, hot water and heating remains in place.
Gas for household consumers served by Naftogaz will cost UAH 7.96 per cubic meter. Other suppliers’ prices range from UAH 7.79 to UAH 9.99 per cubic meter.
Tariffs for cold water in April will also not increase – the issue of increase is under discussion.
