The Government has introduced additional compensation for the costs of certain communal services to recipients of housing subsidies for the quarantine period, which will average UAH 300 per each household.

The relevant resolution, drafted by the Ministry of Social Policy, was adopted at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on March 25, 2020.

This decision of the Government is aimed to significantly strengthen the program of housing subsidies and social support for the least protected categories of citizens against the background of the quarantine, emphasized Minister of Social Policy Maryna Lazebna, presenting the draft resolution at the Government meeting.

The Government's decision, in particular, stipulates for a 50% increase in social norms for consumption of electricity, cold and hot water, sewage and natural gas for cooking and heating purposes – the utilities covered by the subsidizing program. This step was forced by the fact that during the quarantine period, citizens stay longer in their homes and respectively the consumption of these services is growing. The additional compensation will be applied to over 3 million households.

Moreover, there has been simplified a procedure for the assigning (including for the next period) and the payment of cash subsidies to citizens for payment for housing and communal services, the purchase of solid and liquid fuel for heating as well as liquefied gas. This process will be automatic, without unnecessary bureaucratic procedures.

In addition, the Government has simplified the procedure for providing subsidies to citizens who have lost their work as a result of introduction of quarantine and are registered as unemployed.