State child benefit for single mothers

What kind of woman is considered a single mother?

According to Article 18-1 of the Law of Ukraine "On State Assistance to Families with Children", single mothers (who are not married) and single adoptive parents are entitled to child benefits if the child's birth certificate (decision on adoption) does not contain an entry about the father (mother) or the entry about the father (mother) was made in accordance with the procedure established by law by the state civil registration authority at the direction of the child's mother (father, adoptive parent).

What is the procedure for receiving child benefits for such mothers?

The assistance is provided in the amount equal to the difference between 50 percent of the subsistence minimum for a child of the corresponding age and the average monthly total income of the family; per capita for the previous six months, but not less than 10 percent of the subsistence minimum for a child of the corresponding age, to single mothers, single adoptive parents (widows, widowers), mother (father) of children in case of death of one of the parents whose marriage was dissolved before the day of death, who do not receive a survivor's pension or social pension.

If a single mother (widow, widower), mother (father) of children in the event of the death of one of the parents whose marriage was dissolved before the day of death, has married, she retains the right to receive assistance for children born before marriage, provided that the children were not adopted by her husband (wife).

A woman who has children from a person with whom she has not been and is not in a registered marriage, but with whom she runs a common household, lives together and brings up children, cannot apply for assistance. If this woman registers a marriage with a person who is the father of her children, the allowance for children born to this person is not granted.

The allowance is allocated for each child.

The following documents are required to be submitted to the department of labor and social protection at the place of residence for the purpose of assignment of benefits:

• an application for the allowance, drawn up in the form approved by the Ministry of Labor;
• a certificate from the state civil registration authority on the grounds for entering information about the child's father into the birth registration book;
• a copy of the child's birth certificate;
• a certificate of residence of the child with the mother, issued at the place of residence of the family.

If the child is studying outside the settlement in which the mother lives and is not on full state support, instead of a certificate of residence of the child with the mother, a certificate of residence of the mother and a certificate of residence (study) of the child are submitted.

Adopters must also submit a copy of the adoption decision, and widows and widowers must submit a copy of the death certificate of one of their spouses and a certificate that they do not receive a survivor's pension or social pension.

The mother (father) of children in the event of the death of one of the parents whose marriage was dissolved before the date of death and who do not receive a survivor's pension or social pension for them, must also submit a copy of the divorce certificate, a copy of the death certificate of one of the parents, and a certificate stating that they do not receive the above pensions for the children.

The allowance is granted from the month in which the application with all the necessary documents was submitted and is paid monthly until the child reaches the age of 18 inclusive.

If a single mother gave birth to a child outside of Ukraine and cannot provide the relevant documents, how can she receive this assistance?

In this case, the decision to grant state aid is made by the Department of Labor and Social Protection of the Population on the basis of an examination of the child's living conditions and a duly legalized birth certificate.