“Schoolchild’s Package” is expanding: what a first-grader can now buy
3 September 2025 18:54
The government is preparing to expand the list of goods that can be purchased under the state program “Schoolchildren’s Package”. The Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Denys Uliutin said this on ICTV, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
He confirmed that from now on, Ukrainian families will be able to spend the allocated state aid not only on stationery, clothes and shoes for children, but also on the purchase of books.
According to the head of the relevant ministry, the relevant amendments to the resolution are already being prepared, and the new opportunity will appear in the next three weeks. “This decision to expand the Schoolchildren’s Package was made due to the high interest in the program and numerous requests from parents who want to invest the funds in their children’s education.
We want to give families more flexibility in how they use the aid. Books are no less important part of preparing for the school year than a backpack or notebooks,” said Ulyutin.
“As of September 2, almost 128,000 families have already applied for the program, 122,000 of whom have used the Diia mobile application for administrative services. As part of the first stage of funding, 86 thousand families have already received payments totaling UAH 430 million, which is 35% of the total program budget for 2025. Another 18,000 families are waiting for the recalculation in the near future.
At the same time, more than 3,000 refusals were recorded, most of which are related to incorrect data or changes in the child’s educational status (for example, transfer to another institution).
The Minister emphasized that such families will be able to reapply after the information in the registers is updated.
Parents should not worry. After the changes are made to the system, they need to wait two days and reapply,” Ulyutin explained.
We remind you that the Schoolchildren’s Package program is being implemented at the initiative of the President of Ukraine in partnership with a number of state and international organizations. The following agencies are involved in its implementation:
- Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity;
- Ministry of Digital Transformation;
- diia, an administrative service delivery platform;
- Ministry of Education and Science;
- The Pension Fund of Ukraine.
The project is being implemented with the support of UNDP in Ukraine, the governments of Sweden and Switzerland, and the DECIDE project – Decentralization for Democratic Education.
You can apply for assistance until November 15, 2025. To do this, use the Diia application or contact the nearest service center of the Pension Fund of Ukraine. The list of addresses is available online.
The funds will be available within six months after being credited to the corresponding Diia card opened with partner banks. After a few days of checking and verifying the data in these systems, the funds will be automatically credited to such a card,” explained Denys Uliutin .
Who can receive the “Schoolchildren’s Package”
Every family with a child entering the first grade of a Ukrainian school this year can receive financial assistance in the amount of UAH 5,000 under the state program “Schoolchildren’s Package”. One of the parents or other legal representatives of the child can apply for and receive the assistance.
There are no restrictions on the format of education – assistance can also be received for those students who start studying online. The same applies to the form of ownership – public or private educational institution.
At the same time, under the terms of the program, families abroad will be able to receive the payment upon their return to Ukraine, and those in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) – upon their return to the territory controlled by Ukraine.
Why is support provided only to families of first-graders?
The state seeks to support families in starting their children’s education so that this stage is comfortable and first-graders have everything they need.
the “Schoolchild’s Package” is part of a new comprehensive state program to support families with children. The relevant draft law, developed by the Ministry of Social Policy, has recently been adopted in the first reading by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. This means that social support can now cover a wider range of families with children.
What documents do I need to apply for the “Schoolchildren’s Package”?
To apply online, you need to have an ID card or foreign passport and a verified tax number (RNOKPP) in Diia. The application for the service must be signed with a Diya.Signature, so one of the biometric documents must be displayed in the application.
When submitting a written application to the PFU service center, you must present
- passport or other identity document;
- tax number of the taxpayer identification number (if any);
- documents confirming the powers of the legal representative (if necessary).
Step-by-step instructions for applying for assistance online
First, make sure that the Diia app is updated to the latest version. In addition, Diia requires a biometric document – an ID card or passport, as well as a verified tax number (RNOKPP).
Parents may receive a push notification about the opportunity to apply.
- Go to the Services → State aid → Schoolchildren’s package section.
- Select the child for whom you are applying.
- Select or open a Diia.Card for payments.
- Check the data and sign the application with Diia.Signature.
Detailed instructions and answers to frequently asked questions are also available in Diia.
What to do if you can’t get a “Schoolchild’s Package” in Diia
Sometimes the service simply does not appear or an error message appears. The reason is most likely that the information about the parents or the child’s data has not yet been entered into the system or there is an inaccuracy with it.
When a child is enrolled in the first grade, the school must enter his or her data into a special database, AIKOM-2. It is from there that Diia takes all the information. If something is wrong – for example, the surname or name is incorrect, or there is no RNOKPP (identification code) of one of the parents – the system simply does not “see” the child’s parents who are filling out the “Schoolchildren’s Package”.
In this case, you should contact the school and check whether the data on the child and his or her parents are accurately entered into the system. This includes:
- full name and surname (without errors);
- identification code of the child’s parents or legal guardians.
After updating the information in the database, you will have to wait two calendar days and only then try to reapply.
Important: even if parents plan to apply not online but in person at a Pension Fund service center, the data should still be in the AICOM-2 system. Just bringing a school certificate is not enough – a paper version will not help.
What and where you can spend the funds
The funds can be used to buy goods to prepare a child for school, namely school supplies, children’s clothing and shoes. Purchases are possible both in offline and online stores, but payment is made only by bank transfer.
To check whether you can use the funds under the School Pack program, you should contact the store representatives. In addition, many establishments also have information materials confirming participation in the program.
Дивіться нас у YouTube: важливі теми – без цензури
Can non-niche marketplaces and stores participate in the program?
The program is open to large marketplaces and department stores. The key condition is that their payment terminals are configured with MCC codes that meet the program requirements. Then parents will be able to use the funds to purchase children’s clothing, shoes, stationery and other necessary items in these networks. This means that participation in the program does not actually require any additional procedures and depends on whether the terminal’s configured MCC meets the requirements of the Schoolchildren’s Package program, subject to the rules of the acquiring bank and payment systems.
Читайте нас у Telegram: головні новини коротко
