Cash Assistance for Winter Heating for War-affected Populations in Ukraine

The programme targets low-income individuals and households with socio-economic vulnerabilities who are currently living in frontline or other war-affected areas of Donetska, Kharkivska and Khersonska, Luhanska, and Zaporizka oblasts. The assistance is intended to help people to purchase solid fuel or pay for heating utilities.

To ensure that support reaches those most in need, ERC Ukraine applies vulnerability-based criteria to identify individuals and households requiring urgent humanitarian assistance. The targeting and socio-economic vulnerability criteria include the following groups:

• Single-parent households with at least one child under 18
• Households with three or more children under 18
• Households with children under the age of two
• Household of elderly persons (60 and older)
• Households with one or more persons with specific needs (disability, and/or chronic illness)

All vulnerabilities must be verified with relevant documents. Meeting a vulnerability criterion is required to participate but does not guarantee receipt of cash assistance. Pre-approval decisions are based on the information provided by the applicant, who represents the household in communication with ERC team.

Eligible households who pass assessment and verification will receive a one-time payment of 19,400 UAH for the 2025/2026 winter season. The assistance amount will be transferred to the registered head of household/focal point, using the preferred transfer method (direct bank transfer or cash collection at a bank or post office).

To ensure fair access and efficient use of resources, each household can receive cash assistance for winter heating only once per season. Households that already received winter heating support from another humanitarian organisation are not eligible for ERC assistance. Humanitarian organisations coordinate to avoid duplication of assistance across partners.

ERC, in coordination with the UN and other humanitarian organisations, is active in frontline areas with high humanitarian needs. Registration information will be communicated with affected communities through trusted local channels such as community leaders, local authorities, social service centres, and local NGOs. If you live in war-affected areas and need support, updates about available humanitarian assistance will be provided through these community networks.

Online registration is available only for affected people living in hard-to-reach, war-torn areas where access to humanitarian aid is limited or unavailable. Online registration opening dates will be announced here in advance - please check this page for updates. 

Humanitarian aid is always free of charge. To apply, you will need to share personal information, which will be kept secure and only accessed by ERC staff involved in processing your application. After you submit your application, the ERC team will review your information and notify you of the decision within 3 weeks.