Additional funds: how to get social support in December

In December, several types of social support are available to Ukrainians. The author of the Intent analyzed who and how can receive them.

Compensation for IDP housing: who and how can apply for UAH 2 million

The Ministry of Development has announced that starting from December 1, internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have left the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine (TOT) will be able to apply for new housing. To buy a home, they can count on vouchers for UAH 2 million.

It is noted that at the first stage, those IDPs from the TOT who have a separate status of combatant or person with a disability as a result of the war will be able to use the program. These are citizens who have been defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine since 2014.

Currently, IDPs can apply for housing only through the Diia mobile application, and later - at ASCs or through a notary. Applications will be reviewed by the established commissions at the applicant's place of actual residence indicated in the IDP certificate.

This assistance under eRestoration is aimed at purchasing new housing for citizens whose homes remained in the TOT. The condition of their property or confirmation of ownership will not be carried out, but information about the existing property in the TOT must be indicated in the application.

It is emphasized that the IDP status and the presence of combatant status or disability as a result of war will be checked.

The key condition for participation is that the applicant and his/her family (spouse and minor children) must not have any other housing in the government-controlled territory of Ukraine, as well as no previous state housing assistance.

1000 UAH of Winter Support for citizens staying in Ukraine

Until December 24, all Ukrainians staying in Ukraine can apply for UAH 1000. This payment is intended for all citizens and should help cover basic expenses at the beginning of winter. It is worth noting that Ukrainians abroad will not be able to receive UAH 1000.

You can get 1000 UAH through the Diia app or through Ukrposhta.

How to get 1000 UAH through Ukrposhta

Ukrposhta branches are accepting applications for assistance in the amount of UAH 1,000 under the Winter Support program, according to the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine.

The ministry added that if a pension or social assistance is received through Ukrposhta, the payment is automatically accrued and there is no need to apply.

Ukrainians who receive a pension to a bank account and do not use the Diia mobile application or do not have a taxpayer registration number (RNOKPP) can apply through Ukrposhta offices.

Guardians of incapacitated people and parents who are unable to apply for their children online can also submit a written application. To do this, you need the necessary documents (birth certificate of the child; for the incapacitated person - identity documents and confirmation of appointment as a guardian).

A written application can be submitted until December 24, 2025, at any of the more than 26 thousand available stationary and mobile branches throughout Ukraine.

If citizens cannot get to a branch, they should call Ukrposhta's hotline at 0 800 300 545. A postman will visit them at home and help them submit the necessary application.

For residents of the frontline territories of Ukraine, where there are no stationary offices, there is a possibility of submitting a written application through a mobile branch.

How to get a thousand hryvnias through Diia:

Update the Diia app, open it, and find the Services section. From there, go to the Winter support section
Submit an application for yourself or your child (if applying for a child, you must attach a birth certificate)
Choose a National Cashback card. If you don't have one yet, you can quickly apply for one right in the app.
Check your details, confirm that you are in Ukraine, and submit the application.

After submitting an application for 1000 UAH, the user receives a message with the status "in processing". This means that everything has been accepted and the application is being processed.

What you can spend your winter 1000 UAH on

It is not possible to withdraw UAH 1000 in cash, so these funds can be used to pay for goods or services in the categories defined by the Winter Support program:

utilities
Payment for electricity, gas, water or heat supply
medicines and medical supplies, purchases in pharmacies and medical stores
charity, including donations to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Books and printed materials, purchases in bookstores or newsstands
food products
goods of Ukrainian origin (except for excisable goods)
goods of Ukrainian origin purchased at Ukrposhta offices
postal services
shipments, transfers, other services of Ukrposhta

Terms of spending winter 1000

There are different terms for using the funds. Payments accrued automatically through Ukrposhta must be spent by December 25, 2025. If the application is made directly at the branch, then the funds must be used by January 25, 2026.

The payment received to the National Cashback card through the Diia app can also be used at a Ukrposhta branch. Important: the funds received on this card must be spent by June 30, 2026.

Additional UAH 6500 of Winter Support for vulnerable categories of citizens

Until December 17, Ukrainians from the most vulnerable categories can apply for a one-time payment of UAH 6,500. The application process started on November 21.

According to the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, the one-time targeted payment will be automatically credited to the above categories of people. The Pension Fund of Ukraine independently determines eligibility and makes the payment. The funds will be transferred to a current account with a special mode of use or to a virtual payment card "Diia.Kartka".

A one-time payment of UAH 6.5 thousand is provided for the following categories of citizens

children under guardianship or care;
children with disabilities, children in foster care and children in children's homes, including children with disabilities
people with disabilities of group I among IDPs;
children from low-income families under the age of 18;
children from among IDPs who are recipients of the allowance for accommodation of internally displaced persons;
Single pensioners who receive a care allowance.

The allowance can be spent on winter clothing and footwear. It can also be spent on medicines: medicines and vitamins. The funds must be spent within 180 days after enrollment.

If the payment is not automatically received, you can apply for it in two ways

offline at a Pension Fund office
online through the Diia application.

If you want to receive UAH 6,500 through Diia, you should take the following steps

update the Diia app to the latest version and log in;
go to the Services section, then to Winter support and select Winter 6,500 UAH;
confirm that you have an active Diia.Card to which the funds will be credited(HERE are detailed instructions on how to apply for it).

As a reminder, you can apply for UAH 6,500 until December 17.

Identification deadline for social payments to Ukrainians abroad

Starting from September 2025, Ukraine will introduce new rules for pensioners and social welfare recipients living abroad or in the temporarily occupied territories. In order to continue receiving such payments, you must undergo physical identification and confirm that you are the recipient of a pension, the Pension Fund reminded.

Who must be identified:

Pensioners who stay abroad for 183 days or more per year.
Those who have refugee status or temporary protection outside Ukraine.
People living in or who have left the temporarily occupied territories.
Anyone who receives a pension or allowance in Ukraine but is required to confirm that they do not receive payments from the Russian Federation.

The period of such identification lasts until December 31, 2025 for pensioners and recipients of insurance payments. Therefore, by this time, they must pass such identification, otherwise payments to their accounts will be stopped.

Such identification can be done, in particular, via video conferencing at the Pension Fund. Step-by-step instructions "How to sign up for video identification through the web portal of electronic services of the Pension Fund of Ukraine" are available HERE.

Володимир Шкаєв