Assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2026 is provided under the “Cash Assistance by Priorities” (CAP) model, which the UN refugee agency switched to in April 2026 instead of the previous multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA). As of October 2026 the payment amount ranges from 10 800 UAH to 12 300 UAH per person depending on the programme, and the most vulnerable internally displaced persons (IDPs) are eligible for monthly support of 2 000 or 3 000 UAH.
You cannot register directly on the UNHCR website: interviews are conducted by partner organisations at registration centres in 16 oblasts. Below we explain who is eligible for each programme, how to make an appointment with a partner and how to avoid fraudsters.
The “Cash Assistance by Priorities” model
How CAP differs from previous programmes
Until April 2026 UNHCR paid multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) of 3 600 UAH per person per month for three months. The new model did not cancel cash support but changed the selection logic: now not only IDP status or place of residence matters, but the household’s specific situation and the reason it needs cash.
CAP priorities 1–4
As of October 2026 UNHCR’s official assistance page describes four priorities and a separate strand for returnees. In brief they are:
- CAP 1 – vulnerable residents of communities within 0–50 km of the front line or the Russian border, and people displaced in the last six months who did not receive CAP 2;
- CAP 2 – evacuated persons who registered within 45 days after leaving their home because of security risks;
- CAP 3 – people whose expenses have spiked or whose income has disappeared as a result of shelling;
- CAP 4 – the most vulnerable IDPs who have been displaced for more than six months and are entitled to state accommodation assistance but cannot access it;
- returnees – refugees and IDPs who returned to their permanent residence within the last 12 months and have lived there for at least three months.
UNHCR explicitly states that CAP 1 is not currently a priority type of assistance. Therefore, in 2026 the main flow of payments is directed at evacuated people and those affected by shelling.
Who decides a household’s priority
Decisions are not made on the basis of an application alone but following an interview with a UNHCR partner and a comprehensive vulnerability assessment. The interview establishes household composition, income, health status, housing situation and other circumstances, and the selection, the organisation says, is not based solely on place of residence.
Amounts of assistance under the CAP programmes
Minimum amount: 10 800 UAH
CAP 1 provides 10 800 UAH per person for a six-month period, with the possibility of receiving the entire sum in a single payment. The same total applies to returnees: 3 600 UAH per month for three months, i.e. 10 800 UAH, also paid as a single transfer.
The amount is allocated for each household member included in the programme. A family of three recognised as eligible could receive 32 400 UAH if all family members are deemed eligible.
Maximum amount: 12 300 UAH
CAP 2 and CAP 3 provide 12 300 UAH per person as a one‑off payment covering three months. These programmes are aimed at people who have just lost housing or income, so funds are transferred immediately rather than in instalments.
What determines the payment amount
The amount depends on the programme, the number of people in the household and, for CAP 4, who is in the family. The table below compares the programmes based on UNHCR data as of October 2026.
| Programme | Amount | Eligible |
|---|---|---|
| CAP 1 | 10 800 UAH per person for 6 months | Vulnerable residents within 0–50 km of the front line or border, recently displaced (currently not a priority) |
| CAP 2 | 12 300 UAH per person, one‑off for 3 months | Evacuated persons who registered within 45 days after departure |
| CAP 3 | 12 300 UAH per person, one‑off for 3 months | Those affected by shelling with loss of income or sharp rise in expenses |
| CAP 4 | 2 000 UAH/month per adult, 3 000 UAH/month per child or person with a disability | IDPs displaced for more than 6 months without access to state accommodation assistance, by referral only |
| Returnees | 3 600 UAH/month × 3 months = 10 800 UAH | Returned within the last 12 months, living at the location for at least 3 months, high vulnerability |
The CAP 4 amounts match the state accommodation assistance for IDPs, which is 2 000 and 3 000 UAH. This is intentional: the priority was created specifically for those who fall outside the state system.
Geography of the programmes: 16 oblasts
List of oblasts
Partner registration centres for UNHCR operate in 16 oblasts: Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Chernihiv, Lviv, Ivano‑Frankivsk, Cherkasy and Vinnytsia. This list indicates where you can attend an interview, not the limits of eligibility for assistance.
Priority frontline communities
Frontline communities feature in two programmes: CAP 1 covers the 0–50 km zone from the front line or border, while CAP 3 concerns those affected by shelling. Distance to the front is only one criterion and is not an automatic basis for payment.
Separate from CAP, the state programme “Winter Support” for the 2026–2027 heating season operates under Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (CMU) Resolution No. 1084 of 03.09.2026. It provides 19 400 UAH per household in frontline communities of eight oblasts, with communities divided into two lists according to the financing mechanism.
For communities on list 1, applications are accepted by the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU), a Centre for Administrative Services (CNAP) or authorised council officials. For communities on list 2, payments are made by international humanitarian partners, including UNHCR, and applications are submitted only to the executive body of the village, settlement or city council by 30.10.2026. UNHCR does not run its own independent registration for this programme, and payment depends on available funding.
How to check your oblast
Partner organisations publish current addresses of registration centres on the website r2p.org.ua. Before travelling, check the centre’s schedule because hours can change in frontline areas.
If there is no nearby centre, you can clarify options via UNHCR’s free hotline 0 800 307 711. The line is operated by the organisation “Donbas SOS” and is open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 18:00.
How to register for assistance
Registration through partner organisations
UNHCR does not have an online registration button on its own site; all interviews are held by partners, including the Charitable Foundation “Pravo na zakhyst” (Right to Protection) and the NGO “Proliska”. The steps as of October 2026 are:
- Check whether your situation fits one of the CAP 1–3 priorities or the returnee programme.
- Find the nearest registration centre on the partner’s official site or confirm the address via the hotline 0 800 307 711.
- Attend the interview in person or request an online place in the queue via a Google form; the link is posted on the partner’s site.
- Attend the interview, during which a questionnaire is completed and the vulnerability of all household members is assessed.
- Wait for the decision and payment to a bank account or via another secure method, for example Western Union.
This procedure does not apply to CAP 4, which is by referral only. If you are an IDP and cannot receive state accommodation assistance, first find out the reason for refusal from the Pension Fund of Ukraine at 0 800 503 753.
Documents for registration
For the interview you need to bring a Ukrainian passport or another identity document and your RNOKPP (taxpayer identification number). You will also need an IDP certificate if you have one, children's birth certificates, guardianship documents if applicable, and a medical certificate of disability or health condition.
The main applicant must provide an IBAN account in hryvnias opened in their name. An account opened in another person’s name is not suitable for the main applicant, so it is better to open or check the account in advance.
Queue and payment timelines
UNHCR’s official pages do not specify a fixed timeframe from interview to receipt of funds. The duration depends on the centre’s workload, data verification and, most importantly, available funding, so registration by itself does not guarantee payment.
How to tell genuine registration from fraud
Official UNHCR channels
Accurate information about UNHCR programmes is published on help.unhcr.org/ukraine and on the organisation’s official website in Ukraine. The single phone number for inquiries in Ukraine is 0 800 307 711; calls from abroad can request a callback via the online contact form on the official contacts page.
Registration is always free
UNHCR never charges for services or assistance, so any “processing fee” or “insurance payment” is a sign of fraud. Calls to the hotline within Ukraine are also free.
Signs of fake sites
Fraudsters create websites and apps that mimic UNHCR or embassies to steal data or extort money. Be alert if you notice any of the following:
- a site promises “online registration for UN assistance” in minutes without an interview;
- you are asked to enter a card number, CVV, PIN or an SMS code;
- a prepayment is required for registration, “expediting” or “unblocking” a payment;
- the website address only resembles the official one but has extra letters or an unusual domain.
If you have already given data to fraudsters, immediately block your card through your bank and report it to the police at 102. You should also report the incident to UNHCR via the fraud page form to warn others.
Frequently asked questions
Can I receive UN and state assistance at the same time?
Yes. UNHCR cash assistance is not a state social payment and does not cancel it. At the same time, CAP 4 is specifically designed for IDPs who cannot receive state accommodation assistance, and recipients of other UNHCR programmes may apply for Winter Support through their council or the Pension Fund of Ukraine under general conditions.
How long to wait for a payment after registration?
UNHCR does not set a fixed timeline, as everything depends on data verification and programme funding. You can check the status of your application on the hotline 0 800 307 711 on working days from 09:00 to 18:00.
Do I need to pay to register for assistance?
No, registration and the assistance itself are completely free. Any demand for prepayment, fees or card details indicates fraud and should be reported to the police and to UNHCR.
