It is important for communities and local governments to have tools that make social services more accessible, and that make the work of social workers more efficient and transparent. The Social Portal of the Ministry of Social Policy — soc.gov.ua — which was launched on 27 September 2024, has become just such a tool.

This is the first state online resource that enables Ukrainians to apply for social services. Subsequently, as part of the Medical and Social Expert Commission (MSEC) reform, the portal was updated to include an online application feature for rehabilitation services.

Over the course of a year, more than 83,000 requests or applications have been submitted via the portal. These can be submitted either on one’s own behalf or on behalf of other people, such as relatives or neighbours. There are two ways to submit an application: either through a personal account, or via the quick request form on the portal’s home page without authorisation.

The most common services for which applications are submitted are in-kind assistance, home care, counselling, information provision and social integration.

The regions with the most active users are: the Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, and Kyiv regions.

It is important to note that portal users include social service recipients as well as providers. In their personal accounts, organisations can:

• register in the Register of Providers and Recipients of Social Services;

This simplifies the flow of documents and increases transparency in the provision of social services.

From 1 January 2025, the portal has offered an online application service for rehabilitation aids (RA). This became possible with the introduction of expert teams to assess everyday functioning, replacing the outdated MSEC system. People who have already undergone an assessment by these teams can submit an application online.

How does it work? The user:

Thus, the Social Portal provides individuals and communities with a single point of access to social services, facilitating the process for both recipients and the local governments responsible for organising social support.