The Foundation for Public Safety and the Center for Social Partnership and Lobbying at the Kyiv Mohyla Academy have analyzed the quality and ease of applying for social benefits
The Foundation for Public Safety and the Center for Social Partnership and Lobbying at the Kyiv Mohyla Academy have analyzed the quality and ease of applying for social benefits. The study was conducted with the support of the Civil Society and Good Governance Program of the International Renaissance Foundation.
A survey revealed shortcomings in the availability of information at departments of labor and social protection about the size of benefits and procedure for assigning them. Respondents that went to request social welfare could not find any handouts (booklets, brochures, leaflets).
51% of those surveyed said it was difficult for them to understand the documents without any help, while 49% said the information they received regarding the application procedure, size and way social benefits are assigned was clear and comprehensive. However, they sought explanations not only from department employees but also people who have successfully applied for and received social assistance.
Hanna Yelkina, an expert at the Foundation for Public Safety noted: “An important and glaring fact is that people are not satisfied with the amount of assistance received. Our study revealed that 42.2% of respondents are dissatisfied with the size of their benefits and were not explained the reasons for that amount. For 24.4% of people surveyed, the application process took a long time, they didn’t get what they expected, and don’t want to go to the department of labor and social protection again. 4.5% of people who filed a complaint over the amount of assistance designated by the department of labor and social protection were advised by specialists that there was no other option than to go to court.”
The Foundation for Public Safety
(+38 044) 331 68 31
info@fsb.net.ua
***
The goal of the Civil Society and Good Governance Program is to promote development of a system to protect the rights of public and municipal service consumers and to support NGO policy capacity building.
