2026 subsidies may be scrapped due to debts: who is affected
The Pension Fund of Ukraine has provided information on the rules for granting housing subsidies. The Pension Fund explains that the subsidy is calculated as the difference between the cost of housing and utility services within the social norms and the amount of the mandatory payment.
A housing subsidy may not be granted, in particular, if the household has outstanding debts for utility services.
According to the PFU’s rules, this applies to debts of three months or more if the amount exceeds 40 non-taxable minimum incomes – 680 UAH.
Put simply, if a person has accumulated utility debts exceeding 680 UAH and has not resolved this issue for more than three months, the subsidy may not be granted or renewed for the next period.
How to retain your subsidy if you have a debt
Having a debt does not always mean the subsidy will be lost for good.
The Pension Fund of Ukraine explains: assistance may be granted if the debt has already been paid, if an agreement has been concluded to restructure it, or if the debt is being contested in court.
In other words, the main thing is not to ignore the debt. If a person has agreed with the service provider on a restructuring plan and is complying with the terms of the agreement, this may preserve their right to the subsidy.
How the subsidy amount is calculated
The basic principle of calculation has not changed: the subsidy covers the difference between the cost of utility services within the established social norms and the mandatory payment that the household must pay itself.
The mandatory payment depends on the family’s income. If the income is lower, the share of the household’s own payment is smaller, and the subsidy amount may be higher.
This is why, when awarding the subsidy, the Pension Fund checks income, household composition and other circumstances that affect eligibility for the payment.
What else is checked
In addition to income, the household’s financial circumstances are taken into account when awarding the subsidy.
Grounds for refusal may include a deposit exceeding 100,000 UAH, a significant purchase, or the ownership of a new car or several vehicles. The Pension Fund’s public guidance and relevant materials also mention a car less than five years old as one of the reasons for refusal in certain cases.
Such checks are necessary to ensure that subsidies are received by those households that genuinely cannot afford to pay for housing and utility services on their own.
Who is automatically re-assessed
Most recipients do not need to submit a new application each time.
The Pension Fund automatically recalculates subsidies if it has the necessary data on income and household composition. The PFU obtains some of this information from state registers.
However, you must contact the Pension Fund if there have been changes to your family composition, income, place of residence or financial circumstances that may affect your entitlement to the subsidy.
Where to check your subsidy
You can check the latest information regarding the granting or refusal of a subsidy via your personal account on the Pension Fund’s web portal.
You can also clarify the information at PFU service centres. If a subsidy has not been granted or has been suspended, the reasons must be stated in the decision.
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