PM: The state to compensate all low income citizens for economically reasonable tariffs

"Anyone who does not have enough money for housing and utility tariffs, should receive a subsidy from the state. One should not worry about a lack of money to pay for housing services in case of low standard of living," Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk stated at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Wednesday.

He has noted that the Government expects to allocate subsidies to about 2 million families, which makes up about 6 million people.

"As part of our work on the energy efficiency of the country, and especially support for Ukrainian citizens to go through this difficult period in the life of Ukraine, which is associated with market prices and tariffs, especially in energy – a housing subsidies program is the key task for the Government, the Ministry of Social Policy and all executive local authority till the end of this year," he stressed.

The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Social Policy to inform citizens that are currently applying for subsidies about automatic granting since the beginning of the heating season, "You should send to all persons who have applied for subsidies, but didn’t receive subsidy assignment due to the fact they would be entitled to assignment of this subsidy starting with the heating season a written notification that their application has been received, they are in a database, they do not need to re-apply, and that we automatically send information about a grant since the next heating season."

He has also stressed that a subsidy will be appointed for the period from 1 April this year. "If someone received a payment order without a subsidy, in any case we will compensate these people 100% of subsidies for the entire period from April 1," he explained.

The Prime Minister has recalled that the Government foresees UAH24.5 billion in the national budget to settle these payments for low-income citizens of Ukraine.