Ukraine’s parliament passes law to increase payments, reform support for families of children with disabilities
Ukraine’s parliament passed Bill No. 14191 in its second reading, providing for a substantial increase in payments for children with disabilities and state funding for social services for their families. The bill received 331 votes, lawmaker Danylo Hetmantsev, head of the Verkhovna Rada’s finance committee, reported.
Screenshot of the Verkhovna Rada plenary session broadcast on August 19, 2026Hetmantsev was one of the bill’s initiators. Speaking in the plenary hall, he thanked the relevant parliamentary committee, the Ministry of Social Policy and experts involved in drafting the bill. According to him, 160,000 families raising children with disabilities are waiting for the changes provided for by the bill.
“First, it means a significant, multiple-fold increase in social payments for these children. Second, parents will no longer have to choose between care and work. They will receive the relevant additional payments in either case. It also means that the money really ‘follows the child.’ This provides additional protection for children in residential institutions,” he said.
The law also provides for a system of interconnected social services funded from the state budget. It introduces an early intervention service for children from birth to age 4. It also provides a social service to support children’s education at school if they are able to attend, and at home if they cannot attend educational institutions. A temporary respite service for parents will also be introduced.
“I am very grateful that together we have carried out such a major reform to support children. With this reform, the European standards we are trying to approach have definitely come closer,” Hetmantsev said.
ZMINA previously reported that the bill provides for a number of important changes starting January 1, 2027, including a shift from fragmented assistance to a systemic approach, comprehensive state support combining payments and social services, and the introduction of basic social services. These include support during inclusive education, comprehensive development and care for children with disabilities, and temporary respite for parents.
The Ministry of Social Policy previously outlined the amounts of assistance that will be paid once the law takes effect. A new indicator, known as the base value, will be introduced to determine payment amounts. Starting in 2027, it will be set at 4,000 hryvnias.
Monthly payments will be 8,000 hryvnias for a child with a disability; 12,000 hryvnias if the child additionally requires care; and 16,000 hryvnias for a child with a Subgroup A disability.
One of the key changes lawmakers added to the bill before its second reading is a new mechanism for payments to children with disabilities living in residential institutions. All funds will be deposited into the child’s personal accounts: 10% into a current account and 90% into a savings account. Officials will be prohibited from using the funds. Starting at age 14, a child will be able to manage the money in the current account independently.
In 2024, Ukraine adopted a strategy for 2024-2028 to ensure every child’s right to grow up in a family environment. It provides for creating a support system for children and families with children and returning children to their families instead of placing them in residential institutions. This is part of the reform to deinstitutionalize the childcare system, which is one of Ukraine’s commitments on its path toward European Union accession.
