The Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax, and Customs Policy, Danylo Hetmantsev, reported that as of June 2025, the real cost of food exceeds the subsistence minimum proposed by the government for 2026.
Source: Gazeta.UA
According to the 2026 draft state budget, the subsistence minimum per person is set at UAH 3,209 per month. However, calculations by the Ministry of Social Policy show that actual food expenses significantly exceed these figures:
- Children under 6 years: minimum UAH 2,817, actual food cost – UAH 4,482
- Children 6–18 years: minimum UAH 3,512, actual food cost – UAH 6,044
- Working-age individuals: minimum UAH 3,328, actual food cost – UAH 4,794
- Persons who have lost working capacity: minimum UAH 2,596, actual food cost – UAH 3,786
Hetmantsev proposes setting the initial subsistence minimum for 2026 at UAH 4,700 and including in the budget a gradual increase of the subsistence minimum and social benefits throughout the year to match the real expenses of the population.
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