For the fourth year in a row, Ukraine has implemented a mechanism for additional financial support for households that have been granted housing subsidies or benefits for purchasing solid fuel. In 2026, the system has been improved: for those who received assistance in 2025, the additional payment is assigned automatically, without the need to reapply to the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU).
How Additional Support Works in 2026
Additional financial assistance is paid once during the heating season. Funds are allocated from the state budget or from international partners. The amount of the payment is calculated individually and depends directly on the amount of the assigned housing subsidy or benefit for solid fuel. This allows for a flexible approach to the real needs of each family in the context of rising energy and utility prices.
Automatic Assignment for Current Recipients
For households that already received a subsidy or a benefit for solid fuel in 2025, the process of receiving additional support in 2026 is maximally simplified. The PFU automatically assigns the payment based on previously submitted data. Citizens do not need to gather documents or visit fund offices in person — the system itself identifies eligible families and performs the calculation.
What to Do for Those Who Have Not Yet Applied for a Subsidy
Those who did not apply for a subsidy or a benefit for solid fuel in 2025 but need support can contact the PFU with the corresponding application. After the main benefit or subsidy is assigned, additional assistance will be provided automatically. It is important to do this before the start of the heating season to avoid losing the right to the payment. Online application takes only about 30 minutes, making the procedure accessible even for those who cannot visit a fund office in person.
Subsidy Alternative for Families of Deceased Defenders
Recently, the PFU announced an alternative support mechanism for families of deceased defenders of Ukraine. Instead of a standard subsidy, such families may be offered a one-time payment or a preferential loan for purchasing fuel. This decision is aimed at providing faster and more targeted assistance in critical situations. Details of the program will be published on the fund's official website in the near future.
Who Must Contact the PFU
Despite the automation of the process, the subsidy is not assigned automatically to all citizens. It is especially important for those whose income has changed over the last year, who have moved to a new region, or whose family composition has changed, to contact the PFU in person. It is also necessary to visit the fund for those who have not previously received a subsidy but now meet the criteria. Ignoring these requirements may lead to the loss of the right to support in the current heating season.
