State covers only 51% of actual costs for children aged 0-6 and 63% for children aged 6-18 – research findings

At the Media Center Ukraine, the NGO “SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine” presented the results of a study on the level of provision for orphans and children deprived of parental care in family-based care settings, such as foster families, family-type children’s homes, and under guardianship. The results of the research indicate that the current level of state assistance does not ensure compliance with minimum standards of living for children and does not meet the requirements for protection against child poverty.

This was stated by Anastasiia Osadcha, the manager of the “Children’s Homes” project at the NGO “SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine”.

“The amount of state aid is primarily tied to the official subsistence minimum. For aid intended for a child, the coefficient is 2.5, while for a child with a disability, it is 3.5. In 2016, the subsistence minimum for able-bodied individuals equaled the minimum wage. Currently, it is only 38%. Importantly, the subsistence minimum for children aged 6 to 18 increased by 40% from 2020 to 2025. During that same period, prices rose by 80%. Currently, actual state social assistance for children under 6 is 85% of the actual subsistence minimum and 84% for children aged 6 to 18,” she noted.

Based on the study, civil society activists calculated how much payments to foster families and family-type children’s homes need to increase.

“Currently, the payment amount for all family-based care forms is 12,652 hryvnia, regardless of the child’s age or disability status. This amount only covers 51% of the costs for children aged 0 to 6 and 63% for those aged 6 to 18. It only covers minimal basic needs, such as clothing and food. In the survey, we asked about the desired level of coverage for all needs. The response was an amount twice as large: 24,834 hryvnia. It is important to note that 75% of these expenses are for basic needs, such as food, housing, utilities, additional medical needs, transportation, communication, and more,” she emphasized.

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