Ahead of the winter season, a new wave of financial assistance from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been launched. This new phase of the program has expanded the list of eligible recipients, adding new categories of Ukrainians in need of support.
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Who is eligible for the aid?
The list of recipients now includes not only those who were already receiving assistance but also new categories of people:
- individuals without pension rights;
- adults and children with disabilities.
These individuals must meet several criteria:
- Live in areas where active or potential combat operations are taking place (as per Order No. 309).
- Receive social assistance of less than 3250 UAH per month.
- Not receive housing assistance for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
- Not receive targeted financial assistance from other international organizations during the provision of this aid.
Amount of aid and payment conditions
The aid will be provided as the difference between 3250 UAH and the amount of existing state social assistance the person already receives. For example, if a person receives 2700 UAH in social assistance, they will receive an additional 550 UAH from WFP.
This program is planned to last for six months, and the total amount of funding directed to aid by WFP is over 284 million UAH.
How are payments made?
Payments will be made either through bank accounts or by postal delivery through Ukrposhta. Payments to bank accounts are already underway, while payments via Ukrposhta will begin in a few weeks.
Where to apply?
There is no need to apply directly to WFP or the Ministry of Social Policy to receive aid. The lists of recipients are formed based on existing state registries by the State Enterprise “IOTC” of the Ministry of Social Policy, and WFP will distribute the financial assistance to these individuals.
Expansion of the program to include people with disabilities
In August 2023, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and WFP joined forces to financially support pensioners living in areas with active or potential combat. As a result of this initiative, pensioners with low pensions who do not receive other forms of international assistance are now eligible for this aid.
From February to April 2024, the joint WFP project was expanded to include individuals with disabilities from childhood and children with disabilities. As part of this cooperation, additional support from WFP has been provided to over 750,000 Ukrainians.
Aid for pensioners and other vulnerable groups
Over 400,000 Ukrainian pensioners are currently receiving monthly aid. The program is funded through contributions from Germany, the European Union, the United States, France, and private donors.
Conclusion
The new wave of financial aid from WFP is an important step in supporting the most vulnerable groups in Ukraine. Thanks to the expanded eligibility criteria, more people, including individuals with disabilities and pensioners, will receive the financial support they need to cope with these challenging times.
