What benefits are available for people with disabilities in Ukraine and how to apply for them
Kyiv • UNN
In Ukraine, people with disabilities are entitled to benefits for travel, medication, and social payments. Assistance can be arranged through the Pension Fund, Administrative Service Centers (CNAPs), or online.
In Ukraine, people with disabilities are entitled to social protection, pension or social benefits, medical, transport, educational, and other benefits. Their scope depends on the disability group, the cause of its establishment, the person's age, length of service, income, as well as a specific status—particularly in the case of a person with a disability resulting from war.
UNN has looked into what benefits are available for Ukrainians with this status, how to apply for them, and how to use them.
Benefits for people with disabilities in Ukraine: what you need to know
Basic guarantees for people with disabilities are defined by the Law of Ukraine "On the Principles of Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities in Ukraine". It provides for equal rights, non-discrimination, access to rehabilitation, employment, education, medical care, and social support.
The law defines a person with a disability as an individual with long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full participation in society.
What disability groups exist in Ukraine and what they depend on
In Ukraine, Group I, II, or III disability is established for adults. The group depends on the degree of body function impairment, limitations in life activities, and the person's need for social protection.
Note that starting January 1, 2025, disability for adults is established by expert teams assessing the person's daily functioning, rather than the MSEC (Medical and Social Expert Commission) in its old format.
- Group I is usually established for people with the most severe health impairments who may require constant third-party care or assistance.
- Group II involves significant limitations in life activities, but the person does not always require constant care.
- Group III is established for persistent health impairments that limit work capacity or daily activity but are less pronounced than in cases of Group I or II.
The status of a person with a disability is confirmed by a corresponding certificate, a pension certificate, or a certificate of state social assistance assignment. These documents are usually required to use the benefits established by law. If a person is not entitled to a pension or social assistance, they can obtain a separate certificate for using benefits through social protection authorities.
What benefits do persons with Group I disabilities have
Persons with Group I disabilities have the highest level of state support. In particular, they can receive a disability pension amounting to 100% of the age pension if they have the required insurance record. If there is no right to a pension, state social assistance may be assigned.
For people with Group I disabilities, the right to free travel in urban passenger transport, except for taxis, is provided. This can also be used by a person accompanying a person with a Group I disability. It is worth remembering that if an automated fare collection system is in place, an electronic ticket, issued free of charge, may be required.
Also, people with Group I disabilities are entitled to a 50% discount on travel on domestic lines of rail, road, water, sea, and air transport from October 1 to May 15. For persons with disabilities traveling for treatment, as well as for people with Group I, priority control at state border crossing points is provided upon presentation of supporting documents.
In the medical sphere, persons with Group I disabilities have the right to purchase necessary medicines by prescription with a 50% payment of their cost during outpatient treatment. If a person receives a pension no higher than the minimum or state social assistance instead of a pension, prescription drugs may be issued free of charge.
In addition, people with disabilities, children with disabilities, and persons accompanying people with Group I have the right to priority service at ticket offices, institutions, organizations, and enterprises providing services to the public. Legislation also provides for the provision of assistive rehabilitation devices, medical products, prostheses, orthopedic products, and other means in accordance with the established procedure.
Benefits for persons with Group II disabilities
Persons with Group II disabilities also have the right to a disability pension. Its amount, as a general rule, is 90% of the age pension. If a person does not have the required insurance record or right to a pension, they can apply for state social assistance.
People with Group II have the right to free travel in urban passenger transport, except for taxis. They are also provided with a 50% discount on travel on domestic intercity transport routes from October 1 to May 15. This applies to rail, road, air, sea, and inland water transport.
In the healthcare sector, persons with Group II disabilities can purchase medicines by prescription with a 50% payment of the cost during outpatient treatment. If the pension amount does not exceed the minimum or the person receives state social assistance instead of a pension, they have the right to receive prescription drugs free of charge.
Also, for people with Group I and II disabilities, separate benefits are provided for priority or preferential installation of telephones in apartments, and for people with Group I and II visual disabilities—the right to free use of a radio broadcasting point. For people with hearing impairments, sign language interpretation services and hearing aids may be provided.
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Benefits for persons with Group III disabilities
Ukrainians with Group III disabilities have a smaller scope of benefits compared to Groups I and II, but can also receive a disability pension or state social assistance. The disability pension for Group III is 50% of the age pension if the person is entitled to such a pension.
For people with Group III, legislation provides for the right to a 50% discount on the cost of travel on domestic lines of rail, road, air, sea, and water transport from October 1 to May 15. Free travel in urban transport is generally provided for Groups I and II, not for III, unless otherwise established by local programs.
People with Group III can also use the right to priority service, receive rehabilitation aids, medical products, and social services if there are appropriate grounds. Individual benefits may depend not only on the group but also on the cause of disability, income, status, local program, or medical indications.
Benefits for persons with disabilities resulting from war
A separate category of people with disabilities is Ukrainians who received this status due to health problems provoked by war. They have a wider list of guarantees than people with disabilities under general status. In particular, they are provided with a 100% discount on utility bills, the purchase of solid and liquid fuel, and liquefied gas within established social norms and standards. Such benefits are provided regardless of income.
People with disabilities resulting from war have the right to free travel on all types of urban passenger transport, public road transport in rural areas, suburban rail and water transport, as well as suburban and intercity buses. For persons with disabilities resulting from war of Groups I and II, free travel once a year round-trip by intercity transport is provided. For Group III—free travel once every two years or a 50% discount once a year.
Also, such people have the right to free medicines, medical products by prescription, priority free dental prosthetics (except for prosthetics using precious metals), and the provision of prostheses and prosthetic-orthopedic products. Additionally, they are provided with an annual medical examination, clinical observation, priority service in outpatient clinics, and priority hospitalization.
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How to apply for benefits and what is needed
To apply for benefits, a person needs to have a document confirming their status:
- a disability certificate,
- a pension certificate,
- a certificate of state social assistance assignment.
To receive certain types of state support, a person may be asked for:
- a passport,
- an identification code,
- the conclusion of an expert team,
- medical documents,
- an application,
- account details,
- a certificate of family composition or income documents.
To apply for a pension or social assistance, one can contact the Pension Fund authorities, Administrative Service Centers (CNAP), or authorized persons of local self-government bodies. Applications for certain services can also be submitted online through state services if such an option is provided for a specific payment or certificate.
Utility benefits are provided to those in the Register of Persons Entitled to Benefits. To do this, you need to submit an application and documents confirming the relevant status. The size of the discount depends on the category of the beneficiary, social standards, and the number of family members covered by the benefit.
It is important to consider that some benefits are national, while others may depend on local programs. Therefore, before applying, it is worth clarifying the list of available services at the Pension Fund, social protection body, CNAP, or local council.
Reminder
Earlier, we wrote that Ukraine provides social protection for liquidators and victims of the Chornobyl disaster, but the system needs updating.