Support has become less: which European countries have reduced assistance programs for Ukrainians

After the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation and the wave of migration of Ukrainians abroad in search of temporary asylum, European countries began to provide programs to help migrants.

However, a few months later, in some European countries, such programs began to be curtailed, leaving only assistance for the most vulnerable categories of people. The editors of Segodnya have collected information about what kind of support Ukrainians can no longer count on.

Poland

More than 1.2 million Ukrainians received temporary protection status in Poland, as well as the right to payments and benefits. The state provided them with this opportunity to help with work, education and integration into society.

The Poles, who hosted Ukrainians without paying rent, were also paid 40 złoty per day per person. If it was a family of three, the amount of payments per month could reach a decent salary – more than PLN 3,000 (UAH 237,000). However, since June, the program has been reduced to 120 days from the moment Ukrainians crossed the border. The exception is:

• large families;
• people with disabilities;
• pensioners;
• pregnant women;
• infant caregivers.

For these categories of citizens, the program was extended for another 120 days, and all the rest who could not find work in a few months will be relocated to municipal premises. The number of points with the distribution of humanitarian aid has been reduced several times. Although Ukrainians can count on one-time assistance in the amount of PLN 300 and support in the amount of PLN 500 per month for children.

In addition, in Poland, from July 1, the right of free travel for Ukrainian migrants by RRC Intercity trains was canceled. All citizens of Ukraine, without exception, will have to buy a ticket for the full price, zero fares are valid only on some routes until the end of June.

Czech

The Czech government also changed the support program for Ukrainians to avoid “subsidized tourism”. Now, only new arrivals with a temporary assistance visa can count on a payment of 5,000 kroons (6.3 thousand UAH) – one-time and for another five months, if there are no other sources of income.

At the same time, migrants cannot count on such payments if they have taken advantage of free housing and food. They also check the actual residence of a person, and have halved the term for paying for medical insurance.

Switzerland

A similar system was introduced by the Swiss government – now Ukrainians can be deprived of the status of temporary protection if they return to their homeland for longer than 15 days in a quarter. An exception is made only for good reasons, for example, a serious illness of a relative in need of care.

Bulgaria

The country on the Black Sea coast received more than 60 thousand Ukrainians, who were settled in hotels and allocated 40 leva (640 hryvnia) per day for food. From June 1, the amount of payments in Bulgaria was reduced to 15 leva (240 UAH) per day, and with the start of the tourist season they were transferred from hotels to hostels and municipal centers. Some hotels have agreed to extend the stay for Ukrainians at a reduced rate.

Great Britain

The country’s government was supposed to pay local residents £350 in compensation if they sheltered Ukrainians under the Homes for Ukraine program, but they never received the money.

At the same time, from June 10, Wales stopped accepting applications for providing refugees from Ukraine with housing due to the large number of visas issued. It is likely that such restrictions will be temporary and sponsorship applications will be accepted again.

Segodnya used to write where and how much Ukrainians can earn in Poland in the summer, and also told how microentrepreneurs can receive a non-refundable grant from the state to develop their own business.