The Ministry of Social Policy – subsidies
Minister of Social Policy Liudmila Denisova said that a new project on refunding additional charges for low-income families was launched on July 1, 2014 to recover growing prices of natural gas and heating. This allowance can be granted to the families which average total income for the previous six months has not exceeded the minimum subsistence of a family, the press-office of the Ministry of Social Policy reports.
In particular, for children under the age of 6 the minimum wage on January 1, 2014 is set at 1032 hryvnias, for children aged 6 through 18 years - 1286 hryvnias, for able-bodied persons - 1218 hryvnias, for persons out of labour force - 949 hryvnias.
For example, if the family is comprised of four persons (husband, wife, one child under the age of 6, the second – from 6 up to 18 years), total salary of a husband and a wife amounts to 4500 UAH/a month. The minimum subsistence income for such a family makes up 4764 hryvnias (1218 hryvnias Х 2 persons + 1286 hryvnias + 1032 hryvnias). If the total income of a family is less than the minimum subsistence income, such a family has the right to refund.
The Minister explained that the housing and utilities allowance is calculated as the difference between the amount of charges to be paid for housing and utilities after advance in price and payments the family made before price upsurge.
For example, before the increase in prices of natural gas and heating (up to May 1, 2014) a family paid for utilities within the limits set - about 300 UAH/a month, after the prices went up - 400 hryvnias. Correspondingly, the amount of a monthly refund makes up 100 hryvnias. The Minister noted that this allowance will not be paid in cash, but transmitted to the personal accounts of citizens.
The housing and utilities allowance will be granted in the month when the application is submitted till the end of the heating period for 2014-2015 years. Liudmila Denisova accentuated that in view of the price increase, the natural gas rate grew since May 1, while the refund program was launched on July 1, 2014, so the housing and utilities allowance may be granted starting from May.
The Minister underscores to be given the charges refund, it is required to submit a few documents to the authority dealing with social security benefits, at the place of registration: namely, an application, certificate of household composition – persons registered in the dwelling (house), income certificates of the said persons (except certificates of pension and social security benefits) and show up a passport.
Importantly, the refund is given irrevocably, irrespective of a change in a place of residence.
