In Ukraine, there is a state social assistance mechanism that effectively replaces pensions for citizens who are not eligible to receive them. According to the Pension Fund of Ukraine, such payments can be claimed by individuals who have reached the age of 65 and have not acquired the right to a pension, certain categories of persons with disabilities, and children of a deceased breadwinner who lacked sufficient insurance length of service to be assigned a group III disability pension. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the PFÚ.

Who is Eligible for Assistance Instead of a Pension

The right to monthly state social assistance is secured for three main categories of recipients. The first consists of citizens who have turned 65 but do not have the right to a pension, including due to a lack of the required insurance record. The second includes persons with disabilities who do not have the right to pension provision. The third comprises children of a deceased breadwinner who during their lifetime lacked sufficient insurance length of service for a group III disability pension. Thus, the payment is addressed to those who have fallen out of the pension system but need state support.

Appointment Conditions and Income Threshold

To be assigned the payment, the applicant must meet a number of conditions. First of all, the person must not receive a pension or certain other social payments and must belong to a low-income category. Specifically, this means that the average monthly total income for the previous six calendar months must not exceed the subsistence minimum for persons who have lost their capacity to work. An exception is made for persons with group I disabilities and children of a deceased breadwinner: assistance is granted to them regardless of their income level.

Amount of Payment in 2026

The amount of assistance depends on the recipient's category and is determined as a percentage of the subsistence minimum for persons who have lost their capacity to work. If the assigned assistance turns out to be lower than this subsistence minimum, the recipient is additionally provided with monthly state targeted assistance in the amount of the difference up to the minimum level. In 2026, the subsistence minimum for persons who have lost their capacity to work is 2,595 hryvnias. The recalculation of the assistance amount is carried out automatically, without the recipient's application, if a disability group changes or is established, or if the subsistence minimum increases.

Documents and Application Procedure

To be assigned the payment, it is necessary to submit an application accompanied by relevant documents. For legally incapacitated persons, a court decision recognizing incapacity and a document on the appointment of a guardian are additionally required. If assistance is being arranged for a child of a deceased breadwinner, it is necessary to provide a birth certificate, a death certificate of the breadwinner, or a court decision; if necessary, documents on kinship, a certificate from an educational institution, and documents confirming guardianship or representation are added. Applications can be submitted in several ways: when submitting online, a qualified electronic signature must be used, and in person, documents can be submitted by the applicant themselves or their representative via a notarized power of attorney.

Legislative Context

The processing of such assistance takes place against the backdrop of broader changes in the social protection system. The Verkhovna Rada adopted a bill on basic social assistance, which provides for the consolidation of several types of payments for low-income families, single mothers, large families, and other categories; the amount of assistance will depend on family income and the number of its members, and the support is planned to be combined with individual social casework and measures to return able-bodied recipients to the labor market. The parliament also supported a bill to increase state assistance to families with disabled children and adults whose disability occurred in childhood: monthly payments for families with disabled children can grow to 20–71 thousand hryvnias, while for adults the amount of assistance will range from 3 to 8 thousand hryvnias depending on the disability group.