Ukraine's parliament passed legislation on Wednesday, August 19, to increase state financial assistance and expand social care services for children and adults living with disabilities.
Draft Law No. 14191 passed the Verkhovna Rada with the support of 331 members of parliament. The legislation introduces a unified statutory base value that will determine minimum monthly benefit payments starting in 2027.
The Verkhovna Rada is Ukraine's 450-seat unicameral parliament based in the capital city of Kyiv. Ukrainian lawmakers have sought to reform the national social security network to provide stronger protections for vulnerable populations during ongoing economic challenges.
Danylo Hetmantsev, chairman of the parliamentary committee on finance, tax, and customs policy and one of the authors of the bill, announced the vote on Telegram. Hetmantsev wrote that the approval represented a very important step toward supporting families with children with disabilities and individuals living with lifelong conditions from childhood.
The Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity stated that the law changes the government's overall approach to disability support. The new framework combines direct financial assistance with structured social services, including early intervention programs for children with developmental disorders.
Base value payout structure
Under the new system, state social assistance will be calculated using a standardized normative monetary figure known as the base value. Beginning in 2027, the government will set this figure annually within the national state budget law, with a mandatory minimum threshold of 4,000 hryvnias per month.
Monthly assistance rates for individuals will be pegged directly to this base value. Children under 18 with disabilities and adults classified as Group 1 disabled from childhood will receive 200 percent of the base value, establishing a minimum monthly payout of 8,000 hryvnias.
Individuals in Group 2 disabled from childhood will receive 100 percent of the base value, guaranteeing at least 4,000 hryvnias per month. Those in Group 3 will receive 75 percent of the base value, ensuring a minimum monthly payout of 3,000 hryvnias.
Care allowances and family support
The law also provides supplementary care allowances for families and caregivers. Families caring for children under 18 with Subgroup A disabilities will receive a care top-up equal to 200 percent of the base value. Other children with disabilities who require regular care will qualify for a 100 percent allowance.
For adults disabled from childhood in Group 1, care allowances will be set at 200 percent for Subgroup A and 100 percent for Subgroup B. Single individuals in Group 2 or Group 3 who require permanent care will receive a 75 percent supplemental payout.
Parents of newborn children born with disabilities will gain the right to take a two-week paid vacation once every year. Authors of the law estimate that combining direct financial aid with integrated social services will provide eligible families with total monthly support ranging between 20,000 hryvnias and 71,000 hryvnias, depending on individual needs.
Social care services paired with financial aid will cover early intervention, support during inclusive schooling, structured child development, specialized care, and temporary respite care for parents.
Rules for institutionalized care
A major change in the legislation establishes a new payment mechanism for children with disabilities who reside in state residential institutions. Under the new rules, 90 percent of a child's state assistance will be deposited automatically into a personal savings account in the child's name, while the remaining 10 percent will go to a current account for immediate personal expenses.
These accumulated funds remain the legal property of the child and can be drawn upon later to fund higher education, medical treatment, housing, or starting independent adult life.
For teenagers over 14 who enroll in vocational schools, technical colleges, or universities and live outside full state residential care, assistance payments will split equally, with 50 percent going to the current account and 50 percent to the deposit account.
Starting in 2028, a separate mechanism will take effect for adults disabled from childhood living in residential care facilities. Half of their monthly assistance will be paid directly to the individual, while the remaining 50 percent will go to the institution to cover social care services.
Constitutional Court precedent
The parliamentary vote follows a significant judicial decision in June 2026, when the Constitutional Court of Ukraine declared wartime restrictions on paid leave for minors and people with disabilities to be unconstitutional.
The Constitutional Court of Ukraine is the sole body of constitutional review in the country, tasked with verifying that parliamentary acts and executive decisions align with Ukraine's basic law.
