Child support from the state: who is paid and under what conditions
Temporary state aid is assistance to children in low-income families whose parents evade child support, are unable to support the child or whose place of residence is unknown.
When such assistance is granted
When one of the parents
– is included in the Unified Register of Debtors due to non-payment of alimony,
– is subject to criminal proceedings or is in prison,
– is undergoing compulsory medical treatment,
– is declared incapacitated,
– is on military service,
– when his/her place of residence is unknown.
The allowance is not granted if the child is under guardianship or custody or is fully state-supported.
What is the amount of assistance
Temporary assistance is granted taking into account the financial situation of the family in which the child is being brought up, in an amount equal to the difference between 100% of the subsistence minimum for a child of the corresponding age and the average monthly total family income per person for the previous 6 months, but not less than 50% of the subsistence minimum for a child of the corresponding age (i.e. for children under 6 years of age – not less than UAH 1281, 6-18 years of age – not less than UAH 1598).
The maximum amount of assistance:
– For children under 6 years of age – UAH 2563;
– 6-18 years of age – UAH 3196.
How to get alimony from the state
Submit an application to:
– social protection authorities;
– village, town or city council of the relevant territorial community;
– administrative service centre.
Documents to be submitted with the application:
– a copy of the child’s (children’s) birth certificate;
– a declaration of income and property status of persons applying for all types of social assistance;
– a certificate of income (if the declaration contains income that is not available from the State Tax Service, the Pension Fund of Ukraine, social insurance funds and cannot be obtained at the request of the social protection authority).
Additionally, the following may be submitted
– an application with information about one of the parents, as well as information about a single unique court case number or the date of the court decision;
– a copy of the court decision (writ of execution) on the recovery of child support from one of the parents;
– a certificate from the relevant institution on criminal proceedings against one of the parents;
– being undergoing compulsory treatment, imprisonment, being declared incapacitated in accordance with the established procedure, being in regular or military service;
– a notification from the internal affairs body that the place of residence of one of the child’s parents has not been established.
How long the application is considered
– 10 calendar days.
Reasons for refusal
– There is no information about one of the parents in the Unified Register of Debtors.
– Or the applicant has not submitted all the necessary documents for the application within a month.
How the allowance is paid
– To an account in a bank or at a post office.
When the benefit is recalculated
– When the child reaches the age of 6. Or the subsistence minimum for children has changed.
When the payment is stopped
In cases where:
– the child has turned 18 years old
– circumstances have been identified that indicate that one of the parents has the opportunity to support their child
– the debtor has paid child support
– the debtor’s place of residence has been established
– one of the parents obliged to pay child support has died, or has been declared missing or dead
– a court decision on the recovery of alimony has been cancelled
– the parental rights of the parent who supports the child have been deprived
– the child has been taken away from the parent who supports him/her without deprivation of parental rights
– and others.
Where to get legal support
Children have the right to free legal aid, including when applying to the court (e.g., drafting an application to the court, representation in court). Based on Article 14 of the Law of Ukraine “On Free Legal Aid”.
How to apply to the FLA system
https://legalaid.gov.ua/kliyentam/yak-otrymaty-bpd/