President: Steps must be taken to support vulnerable groups of population

President Petro Poroshenko during his working trip to Lviv region emphasized that the state budget should provide for compensations for pensioners who receive pensions less than the subsistence minimum.

"We have agreed that we will take steps to support those who receive pensions below the subsistence minimum," the President said while visiting the International Peacekeeping and Security Center.

Andriy Ostrovsky, Head of Bartativ village council of Lviv region, addressed Petro Poroshenko: “In my community, as well as throughout Ukraine there are a lot of pensioners ... And now there is an increase in tariffs, and the minimum pension equals 1500 hryvnias. As people say, it is ridiculous”.

Andriy Ostrovsky asked the Head of State to consider this issue: “Please, revise the issue of pensions for the vulnerable groups of population. This is a huge problem”.

The Head of State stressed that this initiative shows concern about the community and its inhabitants. "It is you who should ask this question and it is the President who should answer it," he added.

The President stressed that tariff increase has not yet taken place. "And if and when it happens, the unprotected groups of population, and this is my principled position, must be strongly protected. And the increase of tariffs does not have to affect their situation," Petro Poroshenko emphasized.He noted that this should also take place through subsidy mechanisms, the amount of payment for the low-income population must not change for a single kopeck.

"You touch upon the issue of those pensioners, especially in rural areas, who receive pensions less than the subsistence minimum. The pension legislation is implemented in such a way that there is a certain number of people, including those in the village, who receive pensions less than the subsistence minimum," he said.

Petro Poroshenko stressed: "I firmly believe that we must now give the Government the appropriate instruction in planning the budget, so that those who receive pensions less than the subsistence minimum get compensations from the budget. In order for them to have an opportunity to get what provides their normal life".

The Head of State also noted that when making proposals to the budget, this proposal should be taken into account. "I think this is the right thing. And let them hear us," he added

According to him, the monetary support of Ukrainian soldiers was improved. “So that they join the army not only answering the call of the soul, but also having a normal level of social guarantees, a normal level of financial security".

He reminded that an order was given to raise the financial supply by 37%: "And if a soldier receives at least 10 thousand hryvnias, and on the frontline - not less than 21 thousand hryvnias, I think this is the level that exactly speaks about the priorities in the state".