What will change from 1 July: new voltage in sockets, tariffs and pension payments

Among them are the transition to the European standard of voltage in the power grid, expansion of the Pension Fund's powers, changes in social assistance for low-income families and adjustments in tariffs for public utilities. Particularly significant will be the rethinking and optimisation of the system of social benefits, which should increase their accessibility and timeliness.

Transition to 230 volts: the power grid becomes European

On 1 July Ukraine officially changes the standard of voltage in the power grid from the usual 220 to 230 volts. This is a step towards integration with the European energy market. For ordinary consumers, this transition will be almost imperceptible: most household appliances, especially those imported from the EU, are designed for 230 V and above. In addition, the change in voltage will not affect electricity bills, as tariffs are calculated on the basis of the amount of electricity consumed, not on the parameters of the network.

Social payments: major reform and increased support for the poor

As of 1 July, the Pension Fund of Ukraine will take over the administration of almost all social payments. This transition to digital management will speed up the application process, increase the transparency of accruals and greatly simplify access to assistance.

Special attention is paid to low-income families and vulnerable categories of the population. Within the framework of the pilot project, a new basic social assistance is being introduced, combining several pre-existing payments into one - this will simplify the system and allow for a more efficient allocation of resources.

Low-income families, single mothers, large families and children from disadvantaged backgrounds will be able to receive such assistance. The size of the basic payment is currently 4,500 hryvnias. However, from 1 October it is planned to expand the circle of recipients, including additional categories that meet the established criteria.

The transfer of functions to the Pension Fund also opens new opportunities for citizens - now documents for social assistance can be submitted in more convenient places: service centres of the Pension Fund, CNAPs and even online via a portal or mobile application.

This digitalisation and centralisation is an important step towards efficient, fast and transparent social support, which is especially important in the context of economic challenges and increasing needs of the population.

Pensions and salary indexation: to whom and by how much payments will be increased

There are no plans to recalculate pensions from 1 July, but certain categories of pensioners will be able to count on additional payments by age. Thus, the elderly from 70 years and older will receive additional payments from 300 to 570 hryvnia depending on age. These payments are assigned automatically. In July in Ukraine is expected to increase pension payments, but it will not affect everyone. Additional amounts will be received by certain categories of pensioners - both from the state and from international organisations.

Also, from July, indexation of salaries will resume taking into account the growth of consumer prices - this mechanism will partially compensate for inflationary losses of the population. As of June, the index exceeded the threshold of 103 per cent, which gave a start to new recalculations.

Utility tariffs: stability and readiness to European standards

Tariffs for electricity, gas, water supply and sewage will remain unchanged compared to June. Electricity for the population will cost UAH 4.32 per kilowatt-hour, and gas - in the range from UAH 7.79 to UAH 9.99 per cubic metre, depending on the supplier.

Special attention has been paid to the introduction of new standards of energy supply - increasing the voltage to 230 V will allow the Ukrainian network to work more stable and safer in the conditions of integration with the EU, reduce the risks of interruptions and improve the quality of services.

Toll fare for schoolchildren and cadets in Kyiv

During the period from 1 July to 31 August, schoolchildren and cadets of the capital's higher military educational institutions will pay forpublic transport fares. However, for them there is a 75% discount on monthly travel tickets. You can buy concessionary passes through the application "Kyiv Digital" or self-service terminals. The cost of a monthly pass without limitation of trips will be UAH 325. At the same time it is impossible to buy single-use tickets with a discount - they will be sold at the usual price without benefits. Such a step is caused by the need to compensate for the cost of transport maintenance during the summer period and to increase the financial stability of the capital's transport system.

New limits on consignments with cash on delivery at Ukrposhta

From 1 July, limits on the amount and number of payments for individuals when receiving consignments with cash on delivery are introduced. The maximum amount of payment transactions should not exceed UAH 100 thousand per month, and the number of transactions - 10 per month. At the same time, the limits for payments to bank cards are not changed and remain quite high. Such measures are designed to strengthen control over possible illegal business activities and ensure transparency of financial transactions.

Start of the entrance campaign-2025

From 1 July applicants can register in the electronic cabinet for admission to higher education institutions. The application process will begin on 19 July and will last until 1 August. Within two months, applicants will be able to choose specialities, taking into account an important factor - the cost of education. Due to the rise in education prices, many families have to plan their budgets carefully, especially if they cannot qualify for budgetary places and have to pay for a contract.

Mandatory connection of pharmacies to the "Affordable Medicines "programme

Since July, all pharmacies in Ukraine must sign a contract with the National Health Service (NHS). Previously, participation in the programme was mandatory only for pharmacies attached to hospitals. Now it will be possible to get medicines for free or with partial payment by prescription in any pharmacy in the country, which will significantly expand the availability of medical care and reduce the burden on hospital pharmacies.

New rules for vehicle inspection

From 1 July, all technical inspection points are obliged to equip cameras that will take photos and video recordings of the entire inspection process. There must be a minimum of two cameras for each inspection, with additional cameras if necessary to ensure full coverage. Photographs of the vehicle must occupy at least 70% of the frame to eliminate the possibility of manipulation. Photo and video quality checks will be carried out in the service centres of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and in case of violations the protocols will be cancelled. The terms of compulsory technical inspection for different categories of transport have also been specified: commercial passenger cars and trailers will be checked once every two years, lorries and buses - more often. Private cars not used for business are not subject to inspection.

Earlier Socialportal wrote about how you can ensure a decent pension in Ukraine in the future and how not to lose the right to payments to those who found themselves abroad. See also an interview on these topics with pension expert Serhiy Korobkin.

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