Social benefits for children: changes starting in 2026

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted in the second reading a draft law introducing amendments aimed at supporting families with children and creating conditions for combining parenthood with professional activity. The document provides for the introduction of new types of assistance and the updating of the existing system of social payments.

Key changes:

1) Childbirth assistance

Starting from 2026, the amount of assistance will be 50,000 UAH instead of the current 41,280 UAH. The payment will be assigned based on data from the State Civil Status Register without requiring additional documents.

2) “Baby Package”

This one-time in-kind assistance may be received:

• from the 36th week of pregnancy;
• within one day after childbirth at the healthcare facility;
• within 3 months after the child’s birth.

The value of the package will correspond to three subsistence minimums for children under 6 years of age (the subsistence minimum as of January 2026 is 2,817 UAH).

3) New types of assistance: “eNursery” and “School Starter Kit”

“eNursery”

Compensation for the cost of childcare services for children aged 1 to 3.

One parent or another legal representative who provided care and then returned to full-time employment or started entrepreneurial activity will be eligible.

“School Starter Kit”

A one-time payment for first-grade students to purchase school supplies, clothing, and footwear. The amount and assignment procedure will be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers. In 2025, the amount of this payment is 5,000 UAH.

4) Childcare assistance for children under 1 year

A monthly payment is introduced for a person providing care for a child under the age of one (parents, guardians, relatives).

The payment will be assigned from the day after the end of maternity leave until the month the child turns one year old.

The government will determine the amount and procedure for assignment. The payment does not replace childbirth assistance.

5) Single payment authority

The Pension Fund of Ukraine will be responsible for assigning and issuing all types of assistance. Information about childbirth will be transmitted automatically through interagency data exchange.

6) Support for families raising children with disabilities

The procedure for assigning care supplements has been clarified. If “eNursery” assistance is assigned, the supplement for caring for a child with a disability under 18 will be discontinued starting from the first day of the month when the new assistance is assigned. The goal is to prevent duplication of payments.

The law enters into force on January 1, 2026. Payments assigned before this date will continue in the amounts and under the procedure in force at the time of their assignment until the end of the payment period.

If you still have questions or need legal assistance, you can book an online consultation with an experienced lawyer.

This publication has been produced as part of a project implemented by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) with funding from the European Union through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the DRC. Neither the European Commission nor the DRC can be held responsible for the content of this material.