The Government of Ukraine is going to introduce basic social assistance and abandon the establishment of a living wage as the main criterion for determining the amount of social benefits. The move is being heralded as a transition to a new system that the government says should meet today's challenges and provide more effective support to citizens.
At first glance, the reform looks very attractive. By the way, it is not so radical. It's just that instead of the subsistence minimum, the aid will be tied to a new indicator. But if this indicator were approved at the level of at least 6 thousand hryvnias, the assistance would increase significantly. But the state does not have enough money for the army, and there is not enough money for social benefits and wages.
Analysts have already noted that the government's proposal contains cunning mechanisms, which in practice will bring a negative result for many citizens: some will be added a little, others will be cut, and some will be taken away altogether.
By the way, today the official living wage is 2,920 hryvnias, the actual amount is a secret under seven seals. The Ministry of Social Policy may calculate it, but does not publish it. On the contrary, given the current prices and tariffs, the actual subsistence minimum is three times higher than the official one.
