The possibility of receiving unemployment benefits in Ukraine is available to citizens who need it. However, a certain algorithm of actions must be followed in order to receive funds. Find out more about how to receive unemployment benefits under martial law and how much is paid in 2024

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Receiving state unemployment benefits and determining the rights to them under martial law is a separate aspect of social support for citizens. Any Ukrainian who has lost his or her job for various reasons has the right to apply for this assistance.

The conditions of martial law impose their own peculiarities on the process of obtaining unemployment status and the regulation of payments. Many citizens have already used the help of employment centers in the past, but now the situation requires additional clarification and adaptation to the new conditions.

We will tell you who can receive unemployment status in 2024 and what the requirements are further in the article.

Who can receive unemployment status in Ukraine?

Unemployed status can be granted to persons aged 15 to 70 who do not have sufficient income to ensure their livelihood due to job loss or other reasons. Such persons may include:

• Able-bodied persons who have lost their jobs and other sources of income, but do not receive a pension and are able to work.

• Persons with disabilities who have not reached retirement age and receive social assistance from the state for disability.

• Young people under the age of 16 who have been laid off from work due to the re-profiling of an enterprise or staff reduction.

• Single mothers or fathers caring for a child with a disability who are eligible for additional assistance.

• A person who meets the criteria for obtaining unemployment status must be able to work and ready to actively seek employment.

How to get unemployed status: an algorithm of actions

To get unemployed status, you need to submit an application to any employment center or in electronic format through the Diia public services portal or on the official website of the State Employment Service.

To obtain the status, it is important to have the following documents:

- Passport of a citizen of Ukraine or other identity document (foreign passport, residence permit, etc.).

- Individual tax number (TIN).

- A document confirming the last place of employment (employment record book, employment contract, dismissal document).

- Documents on education.

- Military registration document for persons liable for military service.

- A certificate of termination of personal farming or withdrawal from such farming (if this was the main job).

- An application for termination of the employment contract for IDPs or persons residing in the territories where hostilities are taking place. An example of the application is here.

If you apply for unemployment status through the Diia portal of public services, you must scan the above documents in PDF format and have an electronic signature. The registration procedure can be carried out according to the usual or simplified procedure, depending on the category of persons chosen.

To register through the website of the State Employment Service, you must be authorized on the website and follow the same procedure as on the Diia portal. 

During the martial law, IDPs, as well as persons residing in the territories where military operations are (were) conducted or temporarily occupied by russians, can apply in electronic format without additional documents, indicating only their passport and TIN.

After the application is registered, the decision on granting or denying unemployment status should be received within 3 days from the date of application.

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Unemployment benefits: how much is paid

During martial law, unemployment benefits are limited to the amount of the minimum wage established on January 1 of the relevant year, which is UAH 7100 in 2024.

The amount of payments depends on factors such as the insurance period, the reasons for leaving the job (voluntary resignation, agreement of the parties, redundancies at the enterprise) and the amount of salary received by the citizen before the resignation.

The insurance period is calculated as the period during which the person or his or her employer paid the Unified Social Tax. If the last year's length of service is less than 7 months, the person will receive the minimum benefit of UAH 1500.

The same amount will also be paid to those who were dismissed for misconduct, administrative or criminal liability, as well as young people looking for their first job after graduation or discharge from military service.

If the insurance period exceeds seven months, the amount of unemployment benefit is calculated as a percentage of the employee's average salary for the last six months before dismissal, subject to the following conditions

• insurance period of up to 2 years - 50% of payments;

• from 2 to 6 years - 55%;

• from 6 to 12 years - 60%;

• over 18 years - 70%.

Nevertheless, the amount of the payment cannot exceed UAH 7100 in any case. For example, if an employee received an average of UAH 20,000 in the last six months before dismissal and has more than 18 years of insurance coverage, he or she can expect 70% of unemployment benefits, which will amount to UAH 14,000. However, the actual amount of assistance from the state cannot exceed the established limit.

Payments of such amounts may last up to 90 calendar days (360 days for persons of pre-retirement age 58-59 years). If a person receives assistance from the state for more than 90 calendar days, the amount will decrease over time.

Payments are assigned by the selected employment center on the eighth day after the registration of unemployment status and are included in the insurance period, which will affect the calculation of future pensions.

These payments will be credited to a special social account, which can be opened at state-owned banks such as Oschadbank or Privatbank. After opening the account, the details should be provided to the employment center or, in case of electronic registration, within 10 days to the center's email address.

Unemployment status: what are the rights and obligations?

After obtaining unemployment status, a person has a number of rights and obligations defined by law. The main ones include:

• Visiting the employment center: unemployed people must visit the employment center or communicate with a career counselor at least once every 30 days, following the counselor's recommendations.

• Receiving employment services: the unemployed are entitled to free job search services and employment assistance. This includes job search assistance, professional development counseling, and other services that can help you find a new job.

• Information support: unemployed persons have the right to receive information about their rights and obligations as unemployed persons, as well as access to information contained in the Unified Information and Analytical System.

• Counseling and career guidance services: the unemployed are given the opportunity to use counseling, information and career guidance services to choose or change their professional activities.

• Assistance of specialists: the unemployed are provided with access to the services of specialists, such as industry consultants, psychologists and other experts working at the employment center.

• Implementation of an individual plan: the unemployed are required to follow an individual plan, which is drawn up together with a career counselor. This plan contains services and recommendations for employment.

We remind you! Citizens of Ukraine will be able to apply for financial support. Those who meet the established criteria can receive the amount of UAH 10,800. Find out more about who can receive the funds and how to register.

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