Ukrainians May Lose Part of Their Subsidies: What to Do Before July 1
17 June 04:11
Some Ukrainians need to submit an application and the required documents for a housing subsidy by July 1. If they do so on time, assistance to cover utility bills will be granted starting May 1—the beginning of the non-heating season. The Pension Fund of Ukraine issued this reminder, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
Why July 1 Is Important
Housing subsidies are granted starting from the beginning of the heating or non-heating season if a person submits an application within two months of its start.
The non-heating season begins on May 1. Therefore, to receive the subsidy starting on that date, documents must be submitted by July 1.
If you apply later, payments may be granted starting not in May, but in the month of application. In this case, you may lose part of the assistance for the previous months.
Who Needs to Resubmit an Application
For most recipients, the subsidy for the new period is automatically renewed. However, certain categories of citizens must reapply to the Pension Fund.
You must submit an application if:
- the applicant or a household member rents housing and pays utility bills for it;
- fewer people actually live in the residence than are listed in the registration;
- the household includes internally displaced persons, if their place of residence has changed;
- the household is applying for a subsidy for the purchase of liquefied petroleum gas, solid, or liquid domestic heating fuel.
It is these categories that must submit documents in order for the subsidy to be granted or extended for a new period.
What Happens If You Don’t Submit Documents on Time
If a person belongs to a category requiring in-person application but fails to submit the documents by July 1, they may lose their payments for May and June.
The Pension Fund explains: if an application is submitted within two months of the start of the non-heating season, the subsidy is granted from the start of that season, but not earlier than the date the right to receive it arises.
In other words, submitting the application on time ensures that payments begin on May 1.
How to Apply for a Subsidy
There are several ways to submit an application and the required documents.
You can apply:
- through a service center of the Pension Fund of Ukraine;
- through the Administrative Services Center;
- through authorized officials of the executive body of a village, town, or city council;
- by mail—to the address of the Pension Fund office;
- online—through the Pension Fund of Ukraine’s e-services web portal;
- through the “Pension Fund of Ukraine” mobile app;
- through the “Diya” portal.
Online submission methods may be convenient for those who are unable to visit a service center or the Center for Administrative Services in person.
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For what period is the subsidy calculated?
The housing subsidy is calculated separately for the heating and non-heating seasons.
The non-heating season runs from May 1 to September 30, and the heating season runs from October 1 to April 30.
In May, the Pension Fund determines households’ eligibility for the subsidy for the following period. For those who are eligible and do not need to reapply, the subsidy amount is calculated automatically.
Who Does Not Need to Reapply
If a household already received a subsidy during the previous period and does not fall into the categories required to submit a new application, there is no need to contact the Pension Fund separately.
In such cases, the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) automatically recalculates the subsidy and determines eligibility for the new period.
At the same time, citizens should check whether any circumstances have changed that could affect their eligibility for assistance: household composition, place of residence, rental status, the arrival of an internally displaced person (IDP), or other details.
Why You Might Lose Part of Your Subsidy
The risk of losing part of the subsidy arises specifically from missing the deadline for submitting documents. If the application is submitted after July 1, payments may be calculated not from May 1, but from the month the application was submitted.
For families counting on compensation for utility costs, this could mean losing two months’ worth of assistance during the non-heating season.
What to Do Now
Ukrainians who have previously received a subsidy or plan to apply for one for the non-heating season should check whether they need to submit a new application.
Tenants, households with internally displaced persons (IDPs), families where the actual number of residents differs from the number of registered residents, and those applying for a subsidy for solid fuel or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) should be especially careful.
If you fall into one of these categories, it is best to submit your documents by July 1.
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