In Ukraine, benefits for travel on public transport have been canceled, millions of families will suffer
The Cabinet of Ministers has canceled the existing benefits for travel by all types of public transport on urban, suburban and intercity routes, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The government made the corresponding decision at today's meeting, the Government Portal reports.
Instead of benefits, the government introduced their so-called “monetization” according to the Russian model. Monetization of benefits is the replacement of in-kind benefits with monetary compensation. That is, instead of free services, people receive a strictly limited amount of money with which they pay for the services received.
Thus, the amount of monthly cash payments within two months from the date of entry into force of the resolution is approved by the regional and Kiev city state administration. Their size is determined by multiplying the average cost of travel on urban public transport by 30 trips.
For individuals who are eligible for multiple benefits, the largest monthly cash payment is assigned.
The amount of such payments is not taken into account when calculating the total family income for all types of social assistance.
For persons who are entitled to discounts on fares on intercity routes, the amount of payments increases by 20%.
For persons with disabilities of the 1st, 2nd groups and children with disabilities who study in higher educational institutions, institutions of general secondary and vocational education, the payment amount is doubled.
In November of this year, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the introduction of monetization of subsidies from January 1, 2018. The resolution was adopted after it was finalized by the Ministry of Social Policy and the State Regulatory Service.
Before this, Vladimir Groysman stated that this decision would affect 1,5 million families.
The very idea of monetizing benefits appeared in 2014, when ex-Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced the need to transition from the Soviet model of providing benefits.
Ukraine has cancelled public transport benefits, affecting millions of families.