Ukraine plans to reduce social assistance: which payments are at risk of being canceled

Ukraine is facing significant changes: in 2026–2027, the state budget may face a deficit of about $60 billion. Although some of these funds will be received from international partners, even with their help, tens of billions will not be enough. This may lead to a reduction in social payments and bonuses that many citizens have been counting on.

Economist Oleg Getman notes that international support will provide approximately $40–45 billion, and the country hopes to receive another $8 billion from the International Monetary Fund. The remaining necessary amounts will have to be raised domestically, and the main way will be to reduce government spending on lower-priority programs.

The greatest threat hangs over social payments and populist initiatives, which experts have long criticized. Such initiatives include the winter thousand, cashbacks on Ukrainian goods, and other bonuses that annually “knock out” 4–6 billion hryvnias from the budget, but do not bring significant benefits to citizens.

If international funding turns out to be lower than projected, some social support may be canceled. This means that in 2026, Ukrainians should prepare for reduced benefits, plan their expenses more carefully, and not count on additional payments that were previously stable.

The Ministry of Finance and the government emphasize that the question is whether to accept international funds and maintain social benefits, or to reduce programs across the board. For many Ukrainians, the following year may be a time of austerity and thoughtful financing of every hryvnia.