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Ukraine has approved an increase in financial assistance for parents caring for children under the age of one. The changes will take effect on January 1, 2026, once the law is signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The amendments are part of the law “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine to Support Families with Children and Create Conditions that Facilitate Combining Parenthood with Professional Activity”, adopted on November 5 with support from 294 members of parliament. In addition to strengthening family support, the reform aims to encourage higher birth rates.
New benefit amounts from January 1, 2026:
Childcare payments for children under one year — ₴7,000 per month
Payments for children with disabilities — ₴10,500 per month
Funds will be available to parents, guardians, or relatives who are directly caring for a child. For babies born in 2025, a transition period will apply — parents will receive the current ₴860 payment plus the new ₴7,000 benefit until the child turns one.
Support for children with disabilities
Ukraine also plans to reform the system of state support for children with disabilities. The head of the parliamentary finance committee, Danylo Hetmantsev, announced on Telegram that he has submitted a draft law to raise payments and establish a more comprehensive assistance framework.
The proposal links payments to the minimum wage instead of the subsistence minimum, setting the following levels:
Children with disabilities — 100% of minimum wage
Persons with childhood disabilities, Group 1 — 100% of minimum wage
Group 2 — 70% of minimum wage
Group 3 — 30% of minimum wage
Hetmantsev also called for the creation of a comprehensive family support system, including early intervention, inclusive development services, and “parental respite” — temporary care assistance to help prevent burnout.
What else to know
Pensioners in Ukraine can apply for utility subsidies if their expenses exceed 15% of their income. Assistance can be requested via the Pension Fund, CNAP, postal service, or online through Diia.
Additionally, beginning January 1, 2026, families of fallen Ukrainian heroes with special merits will receive 1.5 times the minimum wage in monthly support — around ₴12,000, up from the current one minimum wage.
