Establishing a Disability Group

Contents

Purpose of the assessment

If your health condition deteriorates due to a pre-existing or newly acquired chronic illness, injury, post-concussion syndrome, trauma, etc., and you have a valid MMC (VLK) decision, you may initiate an additional medical assessment to determine the percentage of loss of working capacity or obtain a disability group, you will need to undergo a medical examination by the Expert Team for Assessing Person's Daily Functioning (EKOPFO, ЕКОПФО (in Ukrainian.)).

Foreign service members have the right to undergo daily functioning assessment just like Ukrainian citizens.

Purpose:

• Determine percentage of work capacity loss/disability group and its cause

• Assess the need for prosthetics and other rehabilitation aids

• Receive recommendations for an individual rehabilitation program

• Obtain medical justification for the right to get a hand-controlled or adapted vehicle

• Determine the need for permanent care

• Receive one-time financial assistance, pension (if residence permit is available), and other benefits

An extract from the Expert Teams For Assessing Person's Daily Functioning (EKOPFO) decision serves as the basis for paying one-time financial assistance and other social benefits. Additionally, if you are assigned a disability group, you may choose to be discharged from military service.

If you have been discharged from service and are abroad, obtaining an EKOPFO referral is no longer possible.

How to Attend the Disability Assessment Commission

Most often, service members receive a referral:

1. While on leave or during treatment. To obtain a referral for the assessment:

• Contact your doctor or the MMC (VLK) head

• Provide medical records confirming your conditions, injuries, and, if necessary, undergo an examination to determine eligibility for disability status

• Wait for the electronic referral, which will include all required information stated by the doctor

If you obtain a referral from a doctor while on leave and the assessment is scheduled during your leave, no additional approval from command is required.

If this is not possible and the appointment falls during your time in the military unit, you must obtain a permit from your military unit after returning from leave.

2. While on active service, with the commander’s permission. To get a referral while in service:

1. Submit a report to the commander requesting permission/referral for MMC (VLK) and EKOPFO assessment

2. Based on a referral from the military unit, report to the MMC (VLK), where the MMC (VLK) head will generate an electronic referral for undergoing the assessment to determine the percentage of loss of working capacity or the disability group. The MMC (VLK) head may also refer you to a specialist physician based on your primary condition, injury, or wound, and the doctor will prepare the referral

3. After the assessment date is scheduled, you must obtain approval from the commander to leave the military unit for the examination. In practice, this requires submitting a report

Disability group can be determined during service or after discharge from service. If you have already been discharged, contact a specialist or family doctor and provide medical records confirming your condition, injury, or wound.

Documents

Service members must collect the below documents:

• Passport and taxpayer identification number (if available)

• Military records (military service book, certificate of service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, service ID, service certificate, extract from service record) or copies thereof

• MMC (VLK) conclusion

• Medical documentation (originals)

You may also need a temporary (permanent) residence permit / foreign passport, or stateless person ID for people staying in Ukraine on legal grounds.

During referral preparation, the doctor selects the form of the examination (in person, in absentia, or remotely) in cooperation with you. At this stage, you may also indicate that you wish to involve a representative, relative, or doctor in the assessment process.

Special notes regarding referrals for foreign nationals:

● Full name is entered in Ukrainian using transliteration rules

● Passport details and taxpayer number are specified in the electronic referral

● Scanned documents confirming legal residence in Ukraine are attached to the referral

EKOPFO Procedure

1. You will receive a notice (by mail or phone) with the date and time of the examination. The examination may be rescheduled.

2. Arrive on time at the designated healthcare facility. Bring your passport and originals and copies of medical documents with you.

3. The team will review your documents, may ask you to perform certain movements or do exercises, ask questions, or refer you for additional tests.

4. After the examination, you will receive an official extract from the EKOPFO decision, documenting disability group, diagnosis, and rehabilitation recommendations. The document may be executed on paper or in electronic form (PDF with Ministry of Health stamp) – both are legally valid.

If you are treated abroad, the examination can be conducted remotely.

If you do not agree with the EKOPFO decision, you have the right to appeal within 40 calendar days from the date of receiving the EKOPFO decision. If you miss the deadline for valid reasons, you may request its renewal.

You may appeal the decision:

• In electronic form (the complaint is prepared based on your comments by the doctor who referred you for the assessment)

• In paper form: Send the complaint to the Assessment Center at the following address: Ukraine, 49005, Dnipro, 1-A Feodosiia Makarevskoho Lane

Rights to Rehabilitation

Foreigners and stateless persons who permanently reside in Ukraine have the same rights to rehabilitation and social assistance as Ukrainian citizens. After receiving an extract from the Expert Team decision, a person may:

• apply to the Social Protection Fund of Persons with Disabilities for rehabilitation aids,

• apply to the Pension Fund of Ukraine to arrange or extend pension payments (if entitled),

• apply to the social protection office for state social assistance if there is no pension entitlement.

According to the Procedure for the appointment and payment of state social assistance to persons not entitled to a pension (Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of 02.04.2005 No. 261), such assistance may be provided to:

• foreigners and stateless persons permanently residing in Ukraine,

• persons granted refugee status or additional protection in Ukraine,

• citizens of the Republic of Poland residing in Ukraine under conditions prescribed by law.

If a foreigner is temporarily residing in Ukraine, they may be eligible to receive rehabilitation and social assistance under international treaties concluded between Ukraine and their country of citizenship.

One-time financial assistance (OHD)

After disability determination, you are entitled to a one-time financial assistance (OHD). The amount depends on the disability group or the percentage of loss of working capacity, and whether it is linked to military service or the defense of the Motherland (Ukraine).

If your injury is related to defending the Motherland or performing military duties, in 2026, assistance amounts are as follows:

1st disability group – UAH 1,331,200

2nd disability group – UAH 998,400

3rd disability group – UAH 832,000

If the percentage of working capacity loss is determined, the maximum amount of assistance is UAH 69,888. The amount is calculated depending on the percentage of working capacity loss. At the same time, it is currently not possible to receive assistance based solely on a percentage of working capacity loss resulting from military service.

To receive one-time financial assistance (OHD), you must:

1. Obtain a MMC (VLK) conclusion confirming the causal link between the injury and the defense of the Motherland, performance of military duties, or military service

2. Obtain an EKOPFO (ЕКОПФО) decision with an assigned disability group or percentage of working capacity loss, indicating its connection to military service, performance of military duties, or defense of the Motherland

3. If you are an active service member, submit OHD request to your military unit.

4. If you are discharged from military service, submit OHD request.

• If you served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, to the Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support to which your personal file was transferred

• If you served in the National Guard of Ukraine, directly to your military unit

You can submit documents for the one-time financial assistance (OHD) within three years after the disability group or percentage of work capacity loss has been established.

Copies of the following must be attached to the request:

• Certificate of injury circumstances (injury, post-concussion syndrome, mutilation) (Form 5)

• MMC (VLK) conclusion

• Extract from the EKOPFO decision establishing the disability group or percentage of work capacity loss

• Passport and taxpayer number

• Bank account certificate (can be requested via online banking)