Ukraine offers a new monthly payment for children under 5 years old: who will be able to receive assistance

In Ukraine, they propose to introduce a new monthly state aid for families with children from one year old. They want to make payments until the child starts attending a preschool institution, and in some cases – until the age of five. The corresponding proposal is currently in the form of a petition to the Cabinet of Ministers.

The author of the petition, Maria Rudenko, drew attention to situations when, after the child reaches one year of age, parents cannot send him to kindergarten due to a lack of places or age restrictions.

In such a case, one of the parents or legal representatives is forced to stay at home with the child, while the family’s expenses for his maintenance do not decrease.

The aid is proposed to be paid up to 5 years

The author of the appeal proposes to set the age limit for receiving the new aid at five years – if the child cannot attend a preschool institution due to circumstances beyond the control of his parents.

The petition does not specify a specific amount of the monthly payment.

Instead, it is proposed to set it at a level that will correspond to the real costs of the child’s basic needs. In the future, the amount of the benefit is proposed to be reviewed and indexed in accordance with changes in the cost of living.

Another proposal is to pay such benefit regardless of other types of state support that the family already receives for the child.

Will a new benefit be introduced

At the moment, this is only a public initiative, not an adopted decision of the Cabinet of Ministers.

In order for the electronic petition to be considered by the government, it must gain the required number of votes – at least 25 thousand signatures.

Even after reaching this threshold, consideration of the petition does not automatically mean the introduction of a new benefit. Further decisions by the authorities and appropriate regulatory regulation are required for the emergence of a corresponding state program.

What benefits for children are provided for in 2026

In 2026, a number of state support programs for families with children operate in Ukraine.

In particular, a one-time benefit is provided for the birth of a child in the amount of 50 thousand hryvnias.

The allowance for caring for a child up to one year old is 7 thousand hryvnias per month, and for children with disabilities – 10.5 thousand hryvnias.

There is also a program “e-Nursery” for caring for children aged one to three years. It provides for the payment of 8 thousand hryvnias per month under established conditions, and for children with disabilities – 12 thousand hryvnias.

In addition, the launch of the “e-Kindergarten” program is planned from 2028. It should provide for a monthly allowance of 8 thousand hryvnias for certain categories of families with children from three to six years old. For children with disabilities, an increased amount of allowance is provided.

Thus, the payment proposed in the petition should close the period when the child has already reached one year of age, but due to circumstances beyond the family’s control cannot yet attend kindergarten.