Payments to Ukrainian refugees in Moldova by the UN — changes in 2024

In 2024, the payment system for Ukrainian refugees in Moldova was significantly revised to better align with the actual vulnerability of the refugees. These changes affect both already registered and newly arrived refugees.

Data Update Process and Initial Verification
At the beginning of 2024 (January–February), refugees were asked to update their data via online registration and attach their temporary protection status. This allowed the exclusion of those who had left Moldova or had not received this status.

Each family member is entitled to receive a payment of 2200 lei per month. The amount credited to the card is calculated based on the number of family members.

Mass Vulnerability Verification in May–June 2024
In May 2024, the UN announced a mandatory verification for all remaining beneficiaries of the payment program. This verification was conducted to assess the vulnerability of refugees. As a result, a significant number of households were excluded from the program as they did not meet the new criteria.

Those who failed the verification included:

• Single men of working age.
• Married couples without children or disabilities.
• Families with children where there is a working-age man but no children with disabilities.

Criteria for Continued Participation in the Payment Program
Families that continue to receive assistance meet the following criteria:

• Families with one or more dependents.
• Single-parent families.
• Families headed by a child (under 18).
• Families with an unaccompanied or separated child.
• Families headed by an elderly person (over 60 years old).
• Families with persons with special needs, such as:
  • People with disabilities.
  • Pregnant women.
  • People with serious illnesses.
  • Women at risk.
  • People in need of legal and physical protection.
  • LGBTI+ persons.

Official Information and Registration for Payments
Appeal Review Decisions
By July 2024, 1,900 households had appealed the denial of payments. Of these, 1,700 appeals were reviewed, and 500 families received SMS notifications with decisions:

• 60 families were reinstated in the program and will begin receiving payments.
• The rest were either denied or scheduled for a follow-up interview.
• 66% of appeals were rejected.
  Many families that appealed the denial were invited for a detailed follow-up interview. The follow-up interview does not guarantee that payments will be resumed.

New Refugees and Guaranteed Payments
New refugees arriving in Moldova after January 1, 2024, receive two payments regardless of vulnerability category. After this, they must undergo verification to determine their eligibility for further payments.

Conclusions
The 2024 changes are aimed at providing assistance to the most vulnerable refugee groups. However, the appeal review process remains opaque, causing difficulties for many refugees trying to maintain their support.

If you’re in Moldova, you might also be interested in reading about how to open a bank account in Moldova.