Social services for supported living and residential care: The Cabinet of Ministers expanded recipient categories and simplified the procedure for provider participation

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved amendments to Resolution No. 888, specifically expanding the categories of individuals eligible for supported living and residential care services.

From now on, internally displaced elderly persons and people with disabilities assigned mobility group IV (previously, this right applied only to those assigned mobility group V) can access these services.

Additionally, thanks to the changes to the Resolution, service providers can now join the experimental project through a simplified procedure. It is no longer necessary to undergo an additional compliance check by the National Social Service – a single application is sufficient.

Furthermore, the amendments to the Resolution:

• establish a mechanism for social service providers to submit an application to participate in the experimental project without undergoing an assessment by the National Social Service;
• standardize the procedure for banking institutions to transfer budget funds to social service providers in the event of the recipient's death;
• define the algorithm and timelines for state control/monitoring of compliance with legal requirements during the provision of social services within the experimental project.

It is worth recalling that, to ensure timely and full access to supported living or residential care services, in 2024, the Ministry of Social Policy developed a mechanism for providing these services to elderly IDPs and persons with disabilities under the "money follows the person" principle. The service recipient independently chooses a provider and pays for their services from a special account. This allows individuals who require external assistance and support but have been forced to leave their homes due to hostilities to integrate into new communities, build social and economic connections, and, most importantly, make independent decisions about their lives.

Currently, 141 people receive social services under the new principle. Nineteen organizations have been included in the list of providers, with an additional 45 having submitted applications expressing their intent to join the project.