Social assistance for the low-income: is an adult student considered part of the family?

A child reaching the age of 18 does not automatically exclude him or her from the family when assigning state social assistance to low-income families. If an adult son or daughter is studying full-time or dual education and does not have his or her own family, he or she will continue to be taken into account when determining the right to assistance.

The Pension Fund of Ukraine reminded about this.

Who is part of the family

In accordance with the Procedure for calculating the average monthly total family income, approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 632 of July 22, 2020, children under the age of 23 who do not have their own family and are studying full-time or dual education are included in the family.

These are the rules that are applied when assigning state social assistance to low-income families.

How is a student’s income calculated without a scholarship

If an adult student did not receive a scholarship during the period for which income is taken into account, when calculating the average monthly total family income, he is conditionally credited with income in the amount of 25% of the minimum wage for each month without income.

In 2026, the minimum wage is 8,647 hryvnias, therefore, for the calculation of social assistance, the income of such a student is determined at the level of 2,161.75 hryvnias per month.

How is the right to assistance determined

The Pension Fund explains that the right to state social assistance is granted to families whose average monthly total income is lower than the subsistence minimum for the family.

To do this, social protection authorities analyze income for the six months preceding the month preceding the application for assistance.

How to obtain a certificate of a recipient of state social assistance

The Pension Fund also reminded that persons receiving state social assistance in accordance with the laws of Ukraine “On State Social Assistance to Persons with Disabilities from Childhood and Children with Disabilities” and “On State Social Assistance to Persons Not Entitled to a Pension and Persons with Disabilities” are issued special certificates.

The procedure for their registration, production and issuance was approved by the resolution of the Board of the Pension Fund of Ukraine No. 12-1 dated March 20, 2026, which entered into force on May 1, 2026.

To obtain a certificate, it is necessary to submit an application for its production to the bodies of the Pension Fund of Ukraine.