Buying a car could cost a Ukrainian their housing subsidy: PFU names two key criteria

The Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) reminded recipients of housing subsidies that acquiring a vehicle may become grounds for refusing to grant state assistance or for terminating its payment. Under the current rules, when determining eligibility for a subsidy, not only the total income of the household is taken into account, but also major asset transactions carried out within the last 12 months prior to the month of application. In particular, the purchase of a car worth more than 100,000 hryvnia — whether by the applicant themselves or by any member of their household — may result in the subsidy not being granted or being reviewed.

The 100,000-hryvnia threshold and the 12-month window

The key parameter the PFU focuses on is the transaction amount. If, within the 12 months preceding the month in which the subsidy application is submitted, any member of the household acquired a vehicle or property rights to it for an amount exceeding 100,000 hryvnia, this transaction is recorded in the calculation. It is important to note that this refers not only to a direct cash or credit purchase of a car: the PFU also includes payments related to the acquisition of property rights to a vehicle. This means that even the transfer of rights under a contract or other forms of documenting the transaction may be taken into account during the review.

Vehicle age: the five-year and fifteen-year rules

In addition to the transaction amount, there is a separate criterion related to the vehicle itself. A housing subsidy is not granted if, as of the first day of the month from which it is to be paid, a car less than five years old is registered in the ownership of a household member. Only mopeds and trailers are exempt. In addition, a problematic situation arises if there is more than one vehicle, provided that less than 15 years have passed since the manufacture of the respective cars. Thus, before buying a car, a subsidy recipient must check two things at once: the cost of the specific transaction and the actual age of the vehicle being purchased.

The obligation to notify the Pension Fund

If a person already receives a housing subsidy and buys a car, they are obliged to notify the Pension Fund of the acquisition of ownership rights to the vehicle. The PFU specifically emphasises that recipients must also report one-off purchases exceeding 100,000 hryvnia. The Fund verifies this information when determining the right to continue receiving assistance, and the absence of a notification may lead to a recalculation or termination of the payment. Owning a car does not automatically mean losing the subsidy: the PFU takes into account specific circumstances, the cost of the transaction, and the age of the vehicle, however, ignoring these rules is risky.

Contradictory data

No direct contradictions in figures or wording were found in the provided sources. However, one nuance is worth noting: in one of the related articles (RBC-Ukraine), the emphasis is placed on the fact that "owning a car does not automatically mean losing the subsidy," whereas in another context (zn.ua, obozrevatel.com) cases are discussed in which the subsidy is granted at 0.00 UAH due to exceeding the income threshold or the presence of assets. The difference in emphasis is due to the rules being applied to different situations: in the first case, it is about buying a new car, in the second — about the total income and assets of the household as a whole. For a subsidy recipient, this means that before any major purchase, several criteria must be checked simultaneously, not just one.

Practical recommendations before buying

Experts recommend that housing subsidy recipients consult their local PFU office or the Diia portal about the possible consequences for their payment before purchasing a car worth more than 100,000 hryvnia. The date of purchase relative to the month of application, the age of the vehicle, and the number of vehicles in the household must be taken into account. If the purchase has nevertheless taken place, timely notification of the Pension Fund is mandatory. As RBC-Ukraine previously explained, similar rules apply to other major transactions — including placing funds in deposits — so when planning any significant financial steps, it is important to assess in advance their impact on the right to receive state assistance.