What is a subsidy, who calculates it and to whom it is intended

How to apply, what documents are needed, and how to find out whether the subsidy has been paid are pressing questions for many Ukrainian citizens. Partial compensation for utility bills is an important tool to support socially vulnerable people. And thanks to the simplified application system, the assistance has become even more accessible, the main thing is to take into account all the subtleties of its execution and receipt.

Subsidy - what is it

This is a type of government payment for categories of people who are unable to pay for housing and communal services on their own. The subsidy is an opportunity to reduce the financial burden for low-income families, which is especially important in the context of constantly rising tariffs.

How to find out if a subsidy is accrued

You can find out the status of your application and the amount of compensation awarded on the Pension Fund's electronic services portal: https://portal.pfu.gov.ua. To do this, you need to:

• log in to your personal account;
• select the “My subsidy” tab.

As soon as the application is confirmed, all the necessary information about the accrual will appear. The Pension Fund of Ukraine also notifies those who are eligible for a subsidy but have not used this opportunity. A corresponding notification will appear in the “My messages” tab.

How to apply for a subsidy: basic steps

Currently, there is a simplified application procedure that allows you to quickly fill in all the data without providing an extended package of additional papers. All the necessary information for verification will be obtained from official registers, so no additional confirmation is required. How do I apply for a subsidy? You can do this in the following ways

• on the Pension Fund's electronic services portal (in the Popular Services section);
• on the online platform “Diia”;
• at the ASC;
• through authorized persons in village and city councils;
• by sending a registered letter or applying in person to the Pension Fund service centers.

You can choose the best option for yourself among the listed ones. How to get a subsidy online? To do this, you need an electronic signature. This is the easiest way to get it:

1. Install the Action app.
2. Log in.
3. Select the appropriate item in the menu.
4. Activate Action.Signature.
5. Confirm your identity by following the steps on the screen.
6. Set a passcode for data security.

In the future, the QES can be used to sign any electronic documents.

Data for submitting an application

First, it is important to understand what a subsidy is and who can use it. This opportunity is available only to those categories of the population who cannot pay for housing and communal services on their own, and this must be confirmed. Therefore, you need to provide data on all those registered in the apartment or house, as well as basic information, in particular:

• address of residence
• type of subsidy;
• bank account details for receiving funds.

When filling out the form, you need to specify how you want to receive a response: e-mail, mobile phone, or e-services portal. How to check the subsidy? Wait for a notification to the selected communication channel. If all the conditions are met and the housing area does not exceed 230 m2 for a house and 130 m2 for an apartment, then there should be no problems.

An application under the simplified procedure will be considered within 14 days. If you are eligible for additional benefits and provide supporting documents, the deadline may be extended to 30 days.

Who is not eligible for a subsidy: the main restrictions

Before applying, it is important to read the list of requirements to understand who is eligible and how the subsidy is calculated. Compensation for housing and communal services will be denied if one of the registered persons:

1. Has purchased real estate, vehicles or other durable goods worth more than UAH 50,000 in the last 12 months. The same condition applies in the case of payment for services, except for medical treatment, education, and utility bills.
2. Owns more than 1 real estate object (except for TOT, housing unfit for human habitation, obtained on the basis of partial ownership).
3. Holds bonds or a deposit of more than UAH 100 thousand.
4. Has a vehicle (requiring state registration) less than 5 years old, and if there are several vehicles, up to 15 years old.

Who is not eligible for a subsidy: the ban on receiving assistance applies to citizens who have alimony arrears of more than 3 months.

If you are registered abroad

If the departure took place more than 60 days before the application is submitted, household members living outside Ukraine will be excluded from the list of registered persons.

How to calculate the subsidy yourself

The following indicators are used for the calculation:

• total monthly income;
• number of household members;
• social standards;
• subsistence minimum (UAH 2920 as of 2024).

How to calculate the subsidy? In practice, the process involves three main steps.

The total income for the month must be divided by the number of family members, the subsistence minimum and the coefficient, multiplying the result by 15% (the basic payment rate) - this is the mandatory payment percentage.

The result is multiplied by the monthly income - this is the mandatory payment.

At the final stage, you need to subtract the mandatory payment from the cost of all utility bills in accordance with social standards - this will be the amount of state compensation. All that remains is to submit an application, and after 14 days, check whether the subsidy has been granted. If the first application is rejected due to an error in the application or for other reasons, you have 14 days to make adjustments, which is a chance to change the decision to a positive one.

Subsidy validity period

Housing subsidies to cover utility costs are granted from the moment of application and are valid until the end of the heating season, which ends on April 30.

As for the subsidies for the purchase of solid fuel and liquefied gas, they are granted from the moment of application until the end of the calendar year, i.e. until December 31. These deadlines apply to all those who are eligible to receive a subsidy.