Ukraine to update its social insurance system

On November 21, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada approved in the first reading the draft law No. 12209. The bill, submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers, proposes amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine to establish comprehensive and fair social support (benefits and services) for individuals with limited work capacity, including persons with disabilities.

The draft law proposes:

1. Introducing a "work capacity" status for individuals.
2. Work capacity assessment to evaluate the impact of functional limitations on an individual’s ability to work. This assessment will be part of the rehabilitation and recovery process conducted at the final stage after the individual has received comprehensive rehabilitation services.
3. Health recovery for insured individuals based on a personalized approach, providing the necessary rehabilitation and social support tailored to each person’s needs.
4. New statuses related to work capacity:
• "Stable full work incapacity" will qualify an individual for monthly insurance payments.
• "Stable partial work incapacity" will provide assistance for returning to previous employment, finding new work, retraining, and monthly payments, conditional upon active efforts toward employment.
5. The Work Capacity Assessment Authority will organize evaluations by procuring services from experts in functional assessment.
6. Anonymous data evaluation: The assessment will involve providing de-identified personal data to an expert conducting the evaluation. Based on the expert’s conclusions, the authority will decide on the presence or absence of work incapacity and its degree.

The draft law has been classified as urgent by the Verkhovna Rada. The Committee on Social Policy and the Protection of Veterans’ Rights has been instructed to finalize the draft, incorporating amendments and proposals from legislative initiative entities and recommendations outlined in the Committee’s conclusion dated November 18, 2024. The finalized draft is to be submitted for the second reading in Parliament.