The war started by the Russian Federation has forced many Ukrainians to leave their homes, fleeing enemy shelling or occupation. The number of those who have become internally displaced or re-displaced since 2022 has reached 3.5 million. In total, including those displaced after 2014, there are 4.9 million IDPs in Ukraine today.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the Government has supported its citizens who were forced to become IDPs, in particular, a crisis payment was introduced - housing assistance. This payment is financial assistance from the state for a person who is adjusting to life in a new place, and is intended to support them in finding a job, enrolling children in kindergarten or school, and settling in a new community.
From March 1, 2024, the payment of housing allowance for IDPs was extended for another 6 months for certain categories of IDPs who had already been receiving it for one or two years (at least 8 months).
Primarily, payments were extended to people who are unable to work, care for children or seriously ill or disabled people, have no income or have low incomes (for more details, see via link ).
On March 22, the Government adopted a resolution developed by the Ministry of Social Policy and clarified the list of those IDPs who will be entitled to receive payments for another 6 months.
In particular, to avoid misunderstandings, the resolution clearly stipulates that, among others, the following categories of people are also entitled to an extension of assistance for another 6 months:
- persons with severe forms of the disease who are not diagnosed with a disability (and families in which such persons live);
- children who are placed in the family of a foster carer; foster carers; children temporarily placed in the family of relatives, acquaintances, a foster family, a family-type orphanage;
If the average monthly total income per recipient in the family is less than UAH 9,444:
- persons caring for a child under 3 years of age or a child in need of care under 6 years of age;
- families with children under 18 and/or under 23 who are full-time or dual-education students in institutions of vocational (vocational and technical), professional pre-higher education and higher education;
- Persons who provide social services on a non-professional basis
- students applying independently, under the age of 23;
- persons with disabilities of group III;
- families of pensioners.
In addition, persons over 55 years of age also received the right to extend benefits for an additional 6 months.
Also continued Application period for reassignment of benefits for IDPs until April 30, 2024. At the same time, even Those who apply in April will receive funds taking into account March.
If you meet the specified criteria and submit your application in May, the benefit will be granted from the month of application, that is, also from May.
We also note that during 2 months After receiving assistance, IDPs who do not work and do not care for children or persons with disabilities must facilitate their employment. That is, they must register with the Employment Center (or register as an individual entrepreneur and start a relevant activity/ or receive assistance to achieve economic independence/ a microgrant to create or develop their own business/ or receive a voucher for education, etc.).
If, after the reassignment of benefits, the person fails to do this, the payment of benefits will be terminated.
According to the Ministry of Social Policy