Economy

What’s Changing on May 1: Rates, Subsidies, Benefits, Pensions, Payment Deferrals, and UZ Train Tickets

Starting May 1, 2026, a number of important changes for citizens will take effect in Ukraine. They concern electricity rates, the end of the winter discount for electric heating, automatic recalculation of subsidies, payments for IDPs, filing income tax returns, pension audits, registering property in children’s names, and new rules for pricing train tickets. "Komersant Ukrainian" has compiled all the information about the changes in May.

May effectively marks the start of the summer period for social and utility payments. It is this month that the heating season officially ends, and with it, certain preferential conditions for households change.

At the same time, base rates for gas and electricity for the general public remain unchanged.

Gas and electricity rates as of May 1

Starting May 1, utility rates for residential consumers remain unchanged. The moratorium on utility rate increases remains in effect.

The cost of gas for most residential consumers who receive it at the base annual rate from Naftogaz is: 7.96 UAH per cubic meter

According to Naftogaz, this rate covers about 98% of residential consumers. For customers of other suppliers, prices may range from 7.79 to 9.99 UAH per cubic meter.

The electricity tariff for households also remains unchanged: 4.32 UAH per kWh

The electricity price for residential consumers will remain in effect until October 31, 2026.

End of the electric heating subsidy

One of the main changes in May is the end of the winter subsidy for households with electric heating.

During the heating season, two tariff levels applied to such consumers:

The heating season officially ends on May 1. This means that the preferential rate of 2.64 UAH per kWh no longer applies.

From now on, a single rate applies to all residential consumers, including households with electric heating: 4.32 UAH per kWh

In other words, during the summer period, the rate will not depend on whether electric heating is used or on consumption levels.

Subsidies will be recalculated automatically

Starting May 1, subsidies for the non-heating season will be recalculated automatically for most Ukrainians. This is due to the end of the heating season.

Not everyone needs to contact the Pension Fund separately. Automatic recalculation will be performed for households where key data has not changed.

You must contact the Pension Fund yourself if:

• the family composition has changed;
• your financial situation has changed;
• significant expenses have arisen;
• your place of residence has changed;
• other circumstances have arisen that may affect your eligibility for the subsidy.

Payments for IDPs: Important Deadline on May 1

In May, the procedures for calculating assistance for internally displaced persons will change.

IDPs who submit an application for assistance by May 1 will be eligible to receive payments retroactive to the beginning of the year. These payments will be calculated retroactively for the previous period.

Those who apply after May 1 will receive assistance starting from the date of application.

This is important for IDPs who have not yet applied for benefits or have delayed submitting their documents.

Income Declarations: May 1—the Last Day

May 1 marks the end of the filing period for 2025 income tax returns.

Citizens who received income from sources other than an official employer must file a return. In particular, this may apply to income from:

• property rentals;
• freelance work;
• foreign income;
• investment income;
• other sources from which taxes were not automatically withheld.

After the filing deadline has passed, penalties may be imposed for late filing.

The minimum wage and the subsistence minimum will remain unchanged

In May, the minimum wage and the subsistence minimum will not change. They are set in the 2026 budget.

The minimum wage as of January 1, 2026, is: 8,647 UAH

The general subsistence minimum is: 3,209 UAH per person

Separate thresholds apply for different social groups:

Payments to some pensioners may be suspended

In May, some pensioners may temporarily stop receiving payments due to data verification. This does not mean that pensions are being canceled, but rather that payments may be suspended while information is being verified.

Pensioners who meet the following criteria may be at risk:

• have not lived at their registered address for a long time;
• have moved abroad and failed to report it;
• have not completed mandatory identification;
• have changed their personal information;
• have inaccuracies in their information regarding work history, income, or status.

To avoid delays in payments, you must update your information with the Pension Fund in a timely manner. You must report changes to your passport, last name, bank details, contact information, or employment status within 10 days.

Registering property in children’s names: what will change starting May 25

Starting May 25, 2026, the rules for registering property in children’s names will change in Ukraine. This refers to the law on improving the procedure for conducting legal transactions in the interests of minors.

Key changes:

• to gift a child an apartment or other valuable property, permission from the guardianship authority is no longer required—parental consent is sufficient;
• Children under 14 can make small purchases on their own;
• major transactions involving children under 14 will be concluded by their parents or legal guardians;
• Teenagers aged 14–18 will be able to sign contracts on their own, but with the notarized consent of both parents.

At the same time, these rules apply specifically to the acquisition of property. The sale or other disposal of property that already belongs to the child will remain within the jurisdiction of the guardianship and custody authorities.

Ukrzaliznytsia Introduces Dynamic Pricing

In May, passengers will also notice changes in the cost of some train tickets. Ukrzaliznytsia has updated its pricing rules in the premium segment.

Ticket prices in the following categories will remain unchanged:

• third-class open-seating;
• coupe;
• 2nd class “Intercity.”

However, dynamic pricing will apply in the premium segment. The price will depend on several factors:

Separately, a roughly 20% increase in fares for SV-class cars on international trains is planned.

Ukrzaliznytsia promises to allocate the additional revenue generated toward rolling stock repairs, service improvements, and social programs.

Women-only compartments on new routes

Starting May 1, Ukrzaliznytsia is adding women-only compartments to three more popular routes:

• No. 7 Kharkiv — Odesa;
• No. 12 Lviv — Odesa;
• No. 92 Lviv — Kyiv.

Tickets are now available for purchase in the official app. These compartments are typically located in the fifth car and are marked as such during booking.

The fare for women-only compartments remains the same as for regular compartment cars. There is no additional surcharge for this service.

According to Ukrzaliznytsia, demand for women-only compartments remains very high: occupancy rates for these cars consistently exceed 92%. In total, the number of routes with women-only compartments is increasing to 18.

Changes to the Mobilization Process

In May, Ukraine may update its mobilization rules, as the Ministry of Defense and parliament are currently working on relevant amendments. According to the head of the Office of the President, Kyrylo Budanov, the main goal is to prevent cases and “manifestations of inhumane treatment of people during forced conscription.”

Among the likely changes is a reform of the Territorial Recruitment Centers (TRCs). Lawmakers are discussing the possibility of renaming them “Reserve Offices” and changing their functions.

If the TCCs become merely operators of the “Oberig” registry, they may be removed from street-level notification duties, with these powers transferred to the police.

They’re also looking at stepping up the search for draft dodgers using ID codes, similar to how they track down people who don’t pay child support.

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Who may lose their deferment in May

Martial law and mobilization in Ukraine have been extended until August 2026. The previous decision by the Verkhovna Rada was in effect until May 4. At the same time, after May 4, some Ukrainians will need to apply for deferrals under the new rules.

Currently, automatic extension of deferrals from mobilization is available to a certain category of citizens.

The deferral extension process can occur automatically if the grounds for it remain valid and state registries contain all the necessary information for verification.

You can check the renewal status directly in the “Reserve” app. The user will receive a notification, and the new expiration date of the deferment will be displayed in the detailed information of the military registration document under the “Services” section.

Deferral from Mobilization: New Procedure for Submitting Documents

Starting in May, the procedure for obtaining a deferment from mobilization will change. Certificates and documents for deferment are no longer submitted directly to the TCC.

Documents can be submitted in two ways:

• through the Administrative Service Center;
• online via the “Reserve” app.

You should contact the ASC if your documents are only available in paper form. The application review process takes 7 to 14 days. During this period, the conscript cannot be mobilized or sent for a medical examination.

Changes in the provision of free medications for breast cancer hormone therapy

Starting May 1, 2026, the rules for obtaining medications for breast cancer hormone therapy under the “Affordable Medicines” program will change. This applies to the medications “Letrozole,” “Exemestane,” and “Tamoxifen.”

From now on, these medications will be available free of charge only if there is an electronic treatment plan in the ESOS system.

Patients should contact their oncologist to verify whether an up-to-date treatment plan is available in the electronic system. If a plan is not yet available or the information is outdated, patients should schedule an appointment with their oncologist as soon as possible.

Even if a patient does not manage to update her data by May, access to free medications will be restored immediately after the doctor enters the necessary information into the electronic system.

Electronic prescriptions based on an existing treatment plan can be issued by both oncologists and primary care physicians—general practitioners or family doctors. At the same time, the oncologist treating the patient can independently issue both the first and subsequent prescriptions without a referral to a family doctor.

IDP Benefits for Children: Applications Can Be Submitted Until June 1

For displaced children, the deadline for submitting applications to renew benefits has been extended to June 1, 2026. If such an application is submitted on time, payments will be retroactive to February.

Children under 6 years of age receive benefits regardless of their parents’ income. For children aged 6 to 18, eligibility for benefits depends on their place of residence and place of study.

This is important for IDP families who, for various reasons, were unable to submit their documents earlier: they still have time to apply for renewal of benefits and receive funds for the previous period.

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