The support is intended for families whose children start first grade this year. The mechanism mirrors other state payments through Diia: the application is submitted online, the money arrives on a card and is spent cashlessly.

The relaunch of the programme was announced by the Makariv Settlement Council.

What it can be spent on

The list of categories is closed: school supplies, clothing, footwear and books. Payment works only in shops operating in the relevant retail categories — which is precisely why the money cannot be withdrawn in cash.

The restriction has a simple rationale: the state wants certainty that the money really goes towards preparing the child for school. For a family this means planning purchases in advance, checking against the categories.

Why it matters for the family budget

Preparing a first-grader is one of the costliest items in August. Uniform, shoes, a schoolbag, stationery and textbooks together easily exceed five thousand hryvnias, so the payment covers a substantial part but usually not the whole sum.

For the Bucha district, where some families are only now returning and rebuilding their lives, this support often decides whether a child starts school fully equipped.

How to apply

Applications go through the Diia app. For those who do not use the app, the route through an administrative services centre remains — as with other state payments.

It is worth applying without delay: the closer to 1 September, the heavier the load on the service and the thinner the choice in school supply shops.

Nota bene

Bucha FM is an independent news site and station for the Bucha district. We cover what matters to the community, and we work for you — and because of you. Joining the people who make this possible is simple: support us with any amount.

Support the station