In Ukraine, five types of social assistance may be combined into one payment
As reported by the Judicial and Legal Newspaper, the Verkhovna Rada supported in the first reading a bill introducing basic social assistance for low-income families.
On May 28, the parliament adopted as a basis bill number 15094 "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding the Provision of Basic Social Assistance."
The Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity explained that the bill provides for the creation of a new type of state support — basic social assistance, which is intended to combine several existing social payments into a single support system for low-income families.
In particular, the new payment may replace:
- state social assistance to low-income families;
- state assistance for children of single mothers;
- assistance for children raised in large families;
- temporary state assistance to children whose parents evade alimony payments, are unable to support the child, or whose place of residence is unknown;
- state social assistance to persons who are not entitled to a pension and persons with disabilities.
The Ministry of Social Policy notes that the goal of the reform is to create a clearer and more effective social support system that will allow for a comprehensive assessment of family needs and provide targeted assistance.
"Instead of a complex system of various payments, we propose a single transparent mechanism for calculating assistance, which will increase the efficiency of state support and gradually strengthen its level," said the head of the ministry, Denys Ulyutin.
The bill proposes a simple formula for determining the amount of payment. The total amount of assistance for a family will be determined as the difference between the established basic assistance level and the family's average monthly income for the last quarter.
At the same time, low-income families will be provided with necessary social services at the territorial community level according to their needs, ensuring comprehensive support and addressing family issues.
The size of the basic amount will be approved in the Law on the State Budget of Ukraine for the respective year and cannot be lower than the subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons established as of January 1 of the respective year.
The next stage for the bill is to pass the second reading, after which it will be adopted in full.
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