About the procedure for issuing subsidies and compensation for additional costs for paying for communal services

Odessa City Council will help to understand various types of assistance, arrange subsidies, compensate for additional costs of utilities.

In Ukraine, starting from spring 2014, prices and tariffs for housing and communal services have been increased:

• from May 1st – for gas;
• from June 1st – for electricity;
• from July 1st – for water supply and sewage.

As a result, there has been a significant increase in the cost of housing and communal services (utilities).

Many citizens will find it difficult to pay for housing and communal services at the new tariffs.

However, the state has provided mechanisms for social support to citizens in conditions of rising prices and tariffs.

Since 1995, the Housing Subsidy Program has been operating throughout our country. To soften the "tariff shock," the government has introduced a new compensation mechanism. Families with low incomes can receive the difference between payments before and after the price increase.

Subsidy or Compensation?

Every citizen can apply for both a subsidy and compensation.

What is a subsidy?

If you pay more than 15% of your family`s total income for housing and communal services, the state will cover the difference. This is called a subsidy. If the family includes minor children or persons with disabilities, or consists solely of pensioners and persons with disabilities, the state will cover the costs of housing and communal services exceeding 10% of the family`s total income.

A subsidy is not granted on general grounds if able-bodied persons registered at the address are not working, not studying in full-time education, not registered with the employment service (except during maternity leave), if the applicant is not the owner of the dwelling, or if any of the registered persons own (use) more than one residential premises, the total area of which exceeds the norms, or have made a major purchase (apartment, car, etc.) during the year. In such cases, a subsidy may be granted by decision of the commission in exceptional cases.

To receive a subsidy, it is necessary to submit an application and a declaration of income and property status of the persons registered in the residential premises.

If there are employed persons in the family, income certificates for the previous 6 months should also be submitted.

It should be noted that a subsidy is granted within the norms and standards established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

What is compensation?

Compensation is the difference between the amount you previously paid for housing and communal services (before the increase) and the amount you currently pay. The state compensates this difference if the total income of your family does not exceed the subsistence minimum for the family.

Note: subsistence minimum

• for children under 6 years old is 1032 UAH;
• for children from 6 to 18 years old is 1286 UAH;
• for disabled persons is 949 UAH,
• for able-bodied persons is 1218 UAH.

Compensation applies to such services as gas supply, centralized heating, centralized hot water supply.

To receive compensation, you need to provide:

• an application;
• passport of a citizen of Ukraine (passport document of a foreigner or stateless person);
• certificate of the composition of persons registered in the residential premises (house);
• income certificates of each person registered in the residential premises (except certificates of pension size and social assistance).

You are entitled to compensation even if you are not officially employed. In this case, your income equals the subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons.

When determining compensation, the family`s property status is not taken into account – the ownership of other housing, vehicles, major property purchases.

Compensation will be transferred monthly to the accounts of enterprises providing these services.

For issues regarding the appointment of subsidies and compensation, please contact the district administrations of social protection of the population at the place of registration and at the "hotlines":

• Kyivskyi district (9, Akademika Korolova St., 2nd floor) – tel. +380 (48) 705-41-76; +380 (48) 705-41-75;
• Malynovskyi district (2d, Kosivska St., bldg. 2) – tel. +380 (48) 705-16-60; +380 (48) 705-16-68; +380 (48) 705-19-01 (subsidy department);
• Prymorskyi district (9, Armiĭska St.) – tel. 705-13-09; 705-13-35;
• Suvorovskyi district (120a, Dobrovol`skoho Ave.) – tel. +380 (48) 705-59-82; +380 (48) 705-59-71.