Adoption Assistance Increased: New Rules and Amounts.

Due to the war started by Russia, the number of orphans in Ukraine has increased, so new social assistance rules have been introduced for families adopting children. Experts from the "Legal Adviser for IDPs" explained who is entitled to adoption assistance and what documents are required for this.

Adoption assistance is provided to Ukrainian citizens who permanently reside in the country and have adopted a child from among orphans or children deprived of parental care. If the adopters are a married couple, the right to assistance belongs to one of them, at their choice.

The amount of assistance is 41,280 UAH, of which:

• 10,320 UAH is paid as a lump sum;
• the remaining amount (860 UAH per month) is distributed over the next 36 months.
• If several children are adopted, assistance is provided for each child separately. Adoption assistance does not depend on other types of social assistance for the child.

An application for assistance must be submitted within 12 calendar months from the date the adoption decision becomes legally binding.

The application can be submitted in person, by mail or electronically to:

• The social protection authority;
• the executive body of the village, settlement or city council;
• CNAP.

Required Documents

• an application in the prescribed form;
• a copy of the child's birth certificate issued by the civil registry office after making changes to the record based on the court's adoption decision;
• a copy of the court's adoption decision.
• If submitting documents in person, an identity document is required. If submitting by mail or electronically, a copy of this document must be attached.

It is worth noting that the lump sum part of the assistance (10,320 UAH) is not included in the family's average monthly total income, while the monthly part (860 UAH) is included.

Recall that the Government has extended payments to certain categories of IDPs.