Where to access UNHCR multi-purpose cash assistance and how to apply

The New Voice of Ukraine
·3 min read
UNHCR cash assistance
UNHCR cash assistance

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) continues to collect data to provide multi-purpose cash (MPC) assistance for war-affected population. In March, residents of Kharkiv Oblast can register for assistance.

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Who can receive payments from UNHCR

To ensure that assistance is provided to those who need it most, UNHCR in Ukraine will apply criteria aimed at those with urgent needs. New eligibility criteria include:

1. Persons or families who belong to one of the following target groups:

• Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) since Feb. 24, 2022

• War-affected population since 24 Feb. 2022 in areas close to the active hostilities (Donetsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Zaporizhzhya, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy oblasts)

• Returnees i.e. those who had to move from their regions of origin but eventually returned there

2. Who meet one or more of the following vulnerability criteria:

• Single headed households with at least 1 child under 18 years of age or older family members (over 55 years of age)

• Elderly headed household (i.e. composed of one or more individuals over 55 years old or a person over 55 years of age responsible for at least one child under 18 years old)

• Households with one or more persons with specific needs (disability, chronic illness, etc)

• Foster families caring for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) (documented)

3. Are not enrolled with UNHCR and have not received cash assistance from other organizations.

Eligible persons of concern should also meet socio-economic criteria earning less than 5,400 UAH ($139) per person (family member) per month.

How to apply and required documents

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Individuals under UNHCR's care will undergo an interview with UNHCR partner organization CF Right to Protection at data collection centers to determine their eligibility.

If the household/person meets the vulnerability criteria for MPC, they will be directed to provide personal data for each household member who arrived together.

To be included in cash assistance, a household is limited to the following members:

• the focal point

• his/her spouse 

• he/her children (up to 23 years old) 

• his/her parent 

• his/her grandparents only if they are dependent

• his/her grandparents only if they are dependent

The documents to be presented during the enrolment interview for each member of the household include: 

• tax ID number

• national passport or other ID documents to get the correct spelling of your name

• IDP certificate (when available)

• bank card of the focal point (i.e. registration focal person/principal applicant). The bank account must be in local currency (UAH) 

• birth certificate of your children

• legal guardianship or another official custody document that clarifies the relationship with the children, when applicable

• legal guardianship or another official custody document that clarifies the relationship with the children, when applicable

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Where to receive UNHCR assistance and payment amount

The transfer amount is based on the new humanitarian Minimum Expenditure Basket. Each person will receive 3,600 UAH ($93) for 3 months.

The entire amount for 3 months — 10,800 UAH ($278) — will be transferred to one member of the household either:

• Through transfers via FinTech Rapyd (UNHCR cash assistance can be received through any bank in Ukraine)

• Through Western Union to families without a bank card/account

• Through digital wallet app and money transfer services

• Through digital wallet app and money transfer services

• Bohodukhiv city, Sobornosti Square, 1 (Bohodukhiv municipality) (queue registration is closed — processing previously registered individuals);

• Sheludkivka village, Druzhby Street, 88 (Slobizhanska municipality)

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine