Removing the arrest from accounts

In November 2024, Ms. Kateryna*, who had received the status of a mother of many children in May 2024 and applied for social assistance for a large family, turned to the lawyer of the STEP NGO.

To receive social assistance, the woman provided a card account. However, after the funds were credited, she learned that she could not use them. Her account was seized by a private enforcement officer, which prevented her from disposing of the funds.

Maria Cherep, a lawyer with the STEP NGO, prepared an application to recognize the current bank account as an expendable account and sent it to the private enforcement officer. On November 11, 2024, the private enforcement officer's decision designated the account as an expenditure account. This allowed the restriction of two minimum wages to be lifted, and from that moment on, Ms. Kateryna was able to use the funds in the specified amount.

STEP provides free legal aid in Zaporizhzhia region through cooperation with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and funding from the Humanitarian Fund for Ukraine (HFU).

*Name changed.