The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine is finalizing work on an important bill aimed at changing the system of social support in the country. Instead of the subsistence minimum currently used as a reference point for social benefits, a new basic social assistance is planned to be introduced. This initiative aims to provide more fair and adequate support for different categories of the population.
Why are changes needed?
Social Policy Minister Oksana Zholnovich noted that the current level of the subsistence minimum set in the state budget is clearly insufficient to meet people’s real needs. It is important to understand that the subsistence minimum does not take into account important aspects of modern life, such as the fact that most citizens live in households. Expenses for a single person and for a family of five or six people significantly differ. Households have common expenses that can reduce the overall costs per family member. Therefore, the subsistence minimum, which does not consider such factors, becomes outdated and requires updating.
What will change with the new bill?
The Ministry proposes to switch to a system of basic social assistance based on the minimum household income, rather than individual income. This will allow for a more accurate determination of how much money a family or household actually needs to meet their basic needs. This approach takes into account the differences in needs among different categories of citizens and will enable the provision of social support more effectively.
Many opponents believe that the new changes will simply reduce the number of people in need of assistance. Since a large number of them live with relatives who work and earn money, now these incomes will be distributed to individuals in the household who used to receive some assistance based on the calculations of the subsistence minimum.
Implementation stages
The bill is currently in the final stage of approval. The Ministry plans to issue a pilot resolution in the near future, which will allow testing of the new assistance system and see how it will work in practice. After that, depending on the results, a decision will be made on the final implementation of the new mechanism.
Why is this important?
This initiative is an important step towards reforming social policy in Ukraine. It is aimed at providing more equitable support for all categories of citizens and increasing the level of social protection. The implementation of basic social assistance can serve as an example of how the state can adapt its social programs to modern realities and make them more effective.
