In conditions of economic instability and rising prices for food and utilities, state support becomes critically important for vulnerable segments of the population. However, as it turns out, even those who have a legal right to assistance may face bureaucratic obstacles. In particular, this concerns elderly people who live alone, but whose apartments formally have adult children registered.
Who is eligible for compensation and what is its amount in 2026
According to paragraph 6 of Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine "On State Social Assistance to Persons Not Entitled to a Pension and Persons with Disabilities" No. 1727-IV, the right to a monthly compensatory payment belongs to single persons who have reached the age of 80. At the same time, a mandatory condition is the presence of a conclusion from a medical advisory commission stating that the pensioner needs constant outside care, as well as the fact of receiving a pension.
The amount of this payment is 40% of the subsistence minimum for persons who have lost their ability to work. As of August 2026, the subsistence minimum is 2,595 hryvnias. Thus, monthly assistance for single pensioners in need of care equals 1,038 hryvnias. For many, this is a significant amount that can cover part of the expenses for medicines or food.
Why the Pension Fund may refuse payment
Lawyer Ruslan Ruzhytskyi, in a comment to RBC-Ukraine, warned that the mere fact of living separately from children is not enough to obtain "single" status. If a pensioner has working-age children or grandchildren who are legally obliged to support them, the Pension Fund may refuse payment, even if these relatives have been living separately for a long time or have moved abroad.
The key factor here is registration. If children are registered in the apartment with an elderly parent, the state considers that the pensioner is not alone and, consequently, has no right to compensation. Removing children from the apartment only confirms the fact of living alone, but in itself it does not give an automatic right to benefits. It is important that the pensioner meets all criteria, including age, state of health, and lack of dependents.
How to deregister children without their consent
If the housing is in the private ownership of the pensioner, they have the right to deregister adult children even without their consent. This right is provided for by paragraph 2 of part one of Article 18 of the Law of Ukraine "On the Provision of Public (Electronic Public) Services for Declaration and Registration of Place of Residence in Ukraine" No. 1871-IX.
The procedure is determined by the Procedure for Declaration and Registration of Place of Residence (Stay), approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated February 7, 2022, No. 265, in particular paragraph 61. However, the lawyer noted that the administrative procedure does not always work. According to Article 18 of Law No. 1871-IX, it does not apply to cases where the registered person is a co-owner of the housing.
Difficulties with military personnel and court proceedings
In addition, during martial law, military-age men are generally not deregistered upon the owner's application – in such cases, the issue must be resolved through the court. This creates additional difficulties for pensioners whose children are subject to military duty and cannot be deregistered in an administrative manner.
If the housing does not belong to the pensioner, she cannot independently deregister other registered persons from it. In this case, you need to go to court with a lawsuit to recognize that the person has lost the right to use the housing. One of the grounds for this is Article 405 of the Civil Code of Ukraine: a family member of the owner loses the right to use the housing if, without valid reasons, they have not lived there for more than a year.
What to do if children do not want to deregister
After the court decision enters into legal force, the registration body will independently remove the person from the place of residence in accordance with Article 18 of the Law of Ukraine "On the Provision of Public (Electronic Public) Services for Declaration and Registration of Place of Residence in Ukraine" No. 1871-IX. This means that the pensioner will be able to obtain single status and, consequently, the right to compensatory payment.
It is important to note that the deregistration process may take a significant amount of time, especially if the case goes to court. Therefore, pensioners are advised to prepare for this process in advance and collect all necessary documents confirming their right to housing and the fact that children do not live in the apartment.
