On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Ukrainian authorities made quite a few statements on their assistance to such people. But in fact, after 2013, the level of support for people with disabilities has deteriorated significantly. This was stated by the MP of the OPPOSITION PLATFORM – FOR LIFE Serhiy Lovochkin. The politician is convinced that after the change of power, funding of these people's needs will be significantly increased in the country. 

“The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is the only day of the year when the authorities remember these people, and only by lip service. In fact, over the past five years, assistance to 2,636,000 such people has significantly decreased: while in early 2014, the average disability pension was UAH 1,406.5 or $175.8, today it is UAH 1,996.2 or slightly more than $71. Over the years, official inflation was 142%, and nominal assistance to people with disabilities has increased only by 41.9%. These figures are a real indicator of how current authorities "care" about them. I am convinced that after the change of power, funding of this budget item will be significantly increased in the country,” Lovochkin stated.

The politician said that the average disability pension is lower than the actual subsistence minimum for the disabled. According to the Ministry of Social Policy, as of Oct. 1, 2018, the actual subsistence minimum for the disabled was UAH 2,766, while the average disability pension was UAH 1,996.2.

“In fact, the majority of people with disabilities are below the absolute poverty line, with incomes below the actual subsistence minimum. Disability payments in Ukraine are 5-6 times lower than in neighboring Poland, where in early 2018 the average disability pension was EUR 388,” he said.

At the same time, according to the MP from the OPPOSITION PLATFORM – FOR LIFE, problems with employment of people with disabilities continue to accumulate: at the beginning of 2018, the number of people with disabilities of working age in Ukraine was over 2 million, with 530,400 of them being employed. That is, the level of employment among people of working age with disabilities is only 26.4%.

In addition, the state has been allocating less money for rehabilitation programs. From 2013 to 2018, the level of planned financing fell by almost half: in 2013, $105 million, in 2018, $54.4 million. Lovochkin stated this in his inquiry to the government, requesting to take measures on increasing the social protection of people with disabilities.

“The current authorities have thrown off the care of everyone who needs it. They only care about the state apparatus and power structures, in the hope to prolong power with their help. But ordinary people will vote in the elections, and they will not allow those who have forced them to tighten their belts for five years to remain in power,” the MP from the OPPOSITION PLATFORM – FOR LIFE concluded.