The Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) said that divorced mothers who raise children on their own and have low incomes may be eligible for state social assistance for low-income families, but divorce itself and a lack of sufficient funds do not guarantee payments.
Criteria for granting assistance
A family is considered low-income if, for valid or unavoidable reasons, its average monthly total income is lower than the subsistence minimum established for it. Total income is the sum of all members’ incomes for the month.
The right to assistance and its amount are determined individually depending on family composition, income and other circumstances. The PFU takes into account the family’s income, the mother’s employment, her property/assets and other factors when awarding payments.
Employment and childcare
One of the conditions for granting assistance is the employment of able-bodied family members. An able-bodied person is someone of working age who is legally capable of working; if such a person is without work for a specified period, this may affect the family’s entitlement to assistance.
Caring for a four-year-old child alone does not always exempt a woman from employment requirements, so the argument “I am not working because I am caring for my child” is not always sufficient. Exceptions are possible, in particular when the child requires special care for health reasons - this must be confirmed by a medical certificate.
Verification of property status and documents
In addition to income and employment, when assigning social assistance the PFU checks the family’s property/assets. If certain asset indicators or other circumstances are present, payments may be denied.
To be granted state social assistance for low-income families, it is necessary to submit documents. The list of documents is not provided in the material. A medical certificate is the document that confirms the child’s need for special care, if this is the basis for an exception.
