Social Policy Ministry: Eight million households require subsidies for utilities

The Social Policy Ministry has calculated that the number of families who need government support for paying their utility bills will increase. 

 Every family that cannot afford to pay their own utilities will obtain such support, the ministry's press service reports, adding that preliminary estimates suggest the number of such families in Ukraine could reach almost 8 million households. About 5.5 million families obtained subsidies for utility bills in the 2015-2016 heating season.

The 2016 State Budget of Ukraine currently envisages subsidies for housing and utilities totaling UAH 35 billion. It is planned to provide an additional sum of over UAH 5 billion to cover these outlays.

Proposals to increase financial subsidies will soon be submitted for Parliament’s consideration.