One-Time Financial Assistance for Military Personnel: What Is OFA and How to Claim It

OFA is one-time financial assistance provided to a servicemember or another person defined by law. It is granted in case of disability or loss of working capacity, death or fatality of a servicemember, discharge from service, and conclusion of a first contract. The recipients, documents, and procedure depend on the type of assistance, while the amount depends on the grounds, subsistence minimum, monetary allowance, or length of service. Active servicemembers apply to their military unit; those discharged from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and families of fallen servicemembers apply to the TCR.

What is OFA for servicemembers?

OFA is state-guaranteed one-time financial assistance granted only in cases provided by law. It includes several different payments that differ by grounds, amounts, recipients, documents, and application procedure.

The main rules for paying OFA in case of fatality, death, disability, or partial loss of working capacity are defined by Articles 16–16³ of the Law of Ukraine «On Social and Legal Protection of Servicemembers and Members of Their Families» and Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 975. For fatalities during martial law, CMU Resolution No. 168 also applies. Assistance upon discharge and after conclusion of a first contract is regulated by separate provisions of legislation on monetary allowance.

In what cases is one-time financial assistance paid?

Type of OFA	Who receives it	When the right arises	What the amount depends on
In case of injury or illness	A servicemember, and in cases provided by law — a discharged person	When injury, trauma, concussion, mutilation, or illness results in disability or a percentage of loss of working capacity being established	On the consequences of the injury, causal link, disability group, or percentage of loss of working capacity
In case of disability	A servicemember, a discharged person, and under separate rules — a person liable for military service or a reservist	After EKOPFO establishes disability and determines its causal link	On the disability group, causal link, and subsistence minimum as of January 1 of the relevant year
In case of loss of working capacity without disability	A servicemember, discharged person, conscript, person liable for military service, or reservist in cases provided by law	After the degree of loss of working capacity is determined as a percentage	On the established percentage, category of the person, and causal link
In case of fatality or death	Persons specified in the personal instruction and other recipients defined by law	After fatality or death under circumstances provided by law	On the circumstances and causal link of death; during martial law, a fixed amount of UAH 15 million may apply
Upon discharge	Contract servicemembers, career servicemembers, mobilized servicemembers, reservists, and conscripted officers — under different rules	After discharge on grounds that give the right to assistance	On the servicemember’s category, grounds for discharge, length of service, and monthly monetary allowance
After conclusion of a first contract	A servicemember who concluded a first contract and fulfilled the established conditions	After the contract enters into force, appointment to a position, and commencement of duties	On the category of military personnel and the subsistence minimum

The mere fact of injury does not always mean automatic granting of OFA. For payment under Resolution No. 975, EKOPFO must establish disability or the degree of loss of working capacity, and the VLK must determine the relevant causal link.

Who is entitled to OFA

The composition of recipients depends on the specific type of one-time financial assistance. The right to it may belong to:

1. active servicemembers who have been established as having a disability or partial loss of working capacity, as well as those who concluded their first contract;
2. persons discharged from military service, if the consequences of injury or illness meet the established conditions or the right to assistance upon discharge has arisen;
3. persons liable for military service and reservists called up for training, verification, or special assemblies or for service in the military reserve;
4. family members and other persons defined by law in case of the fatality or death of a servicemember;
5. persons in whose favor the servicemember made a personal instruction.

The status of servicemember or family relationship alone does not guarantee payment. It is necessary to check whether the specific legal provision covers the relevant person, event, and causal link.

OFA in case of injury, disability, or loss of working capacity

Under what conditions the right to payment arises

The right to OFA may arise due to injury, trauma, concussion, mutilation, accident, or illness if the health consequences are documented. EKOPFO establishes the disability group or the degree of loss of professional working capacity; valid decisions of the former MSEC may also be grounds for payment.

The causal link of the injury or illness is determined by the VLK, while the circumstances of the injury are confirmed by the relevant certificate or another service document. For a discharged person, the degree of partial loss of working capacity usually must be established within three months after discharge, while the payment conditions in case of disability depend on the person’s category, the time it was established, and its connection with service.

How the causal link affects the payment

The wording «related to the defense of the Motherland» applies when injury, trauma, concussion, mutilation, or illness occurred during participation in measures to defend Ukraine. Certain legally defined cases related to the performance of military service duties are equated to this increased category for OFA calculation.

The wording «related to military service» means that the health condition is connected with the period of service, but there are insufficient grounds to attribute it directly to the defense of the Motherland or the performance of service duties. With this wording, OFA amounts for disability are lower.

In case of partial loss of working capacity without disability, a link only to military service usually does not give the right to OFA, except for separate rules for conscript servicemembers. Therefore, an inaccuracy in the VLK resolution may affect not only the amount but also the very right to assistance.

OFA for the family of a fallen servicemember

Who can receive assistance and how it is distributed

If there is no personal instruction or it does not cover the full amount, the right to assistance may belong to:

• children, including adopted children, children conceived during the servicemember’s lifetime and born after his death;
• widow or widower;
• parents or adoptive parents, provided they have not been deprived of parental rights;
• grandchildren, if their parents had died by the time of the servicemember’s fatality;
• a person who lived with the servicemember as one family without marriage, if this fact is established by a court;
• dependents within the meaning of legislation on pension provision for servicemembers.

The part of OFA not distributed by the personal instruction is divided equally among the recipients. If one of the persons notarizes a refusal of their share, that share is distributed among the other recipients. When a new claimant applies after the assistance has been paid in full, redistribution is carried out by consent of the recipients or through court.

The composition of recipients, procedure for distributing UAH 15 million, and documents are considered in more detail on the page about payments to families of fallen servicemembers.

Personal instruction of a servicemember

In a personal instruction, a servicemember may define the persons who should receive OFA in case of his fatality and the size of their shares. These may be not only family members.

At the same time, the instruction cannot completely deprive minor children, underage children and adult disabled children, a disabled widow or widower, and disabled parents of the payment. They retain half of the share each would have received in the absence of such a document.

OFA upon discharge and conclusion of a first contract

Assistance upon discharge from service

The payment amount upon discharge depends on the servicemember’s category and the grounds for termination of service. For contract servicemembers and career servicemembers, it may amount to 50% of the monthly monetary allowance for each full calendar year of service. For discharge on certain grounds, at least 10 calendar years of service are required.

In peacetime, for some grounds, 25% of the monthly monetary allowance for each full year is provided if there are at least 10 years of service. In cases provided by law, conscripted officers are paid 50% of the monthly monetary allowance as a one-time payment.

For mobilized servicemembers and reservists called up during a special period, another calculation applies: 4% of the monthly monetary allowance for each full calendar month of service, but not less than 25% of the monthly allowance. Combat and other one-time rewards are not included in the calculation base. The current conditions are provided in the explanation of the Ministry of Defense.

Assistance after conclusion of a first contract

The payment is granted after the first contract enters into force, the servicemember is appointed to a position, and actually commences duties. To receive the funds, a report is submitted, after which the commander issues an order on payment.

Under the general rules, the right belongs to enlisted personnel who concluded a first contract for three years, sergeants and petty officers — for three years or more, and officers — for one year or more. Separate conditions are provided for graduates of military educational institutions and new motivational contracts.

OFA amounts in 2026

The information is current as of August 14, 2026. For calculations tied to the subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons, the amount established as of January 1 of the year in which the relevant right arose is used. In 2026, it is UAH 3,328.

Grounds	Calculation principle	Approximate or established amount	Important conditions
Disability related to the defense of the Motherland or performance of service duties	400, 300, or 250 subsistence minimums	Group I — UAH 1,331,200; II — UAH 998,400; III — UAH 832,000	The group and causal link must be specified in medical documents
Disability related to military service	120, 90, or 70 subsistence minimums	Group I — UAH 399,360; II — UAH 299,520; III — UAH 232,960	Lower coefficients apply
Partial loss of working capacity without disability	The established percentage of 70 times the subsistence minimum	For example, at 20% — UAH 46,592	Applies to contract and mobilized servicemembers with the proper causal link
Partial loss of working capacity of a conscript, person liable for military service, or reservist	The established percentage of 50 times the subsistence minimum	Calculation base — UAH 166,400	It is necessary to confirm the circumstances and comply with the time limits for establishing loss of working capacity
Fatality during martial law or death within one year from the relevant injury	Fixed amount	UAH 15,000,000 for all recipients	For deaths certified from September 1, 2025: UAH 3 million is paid first, and the remaining UAH 12 million — over 80 months
Death in cases not covered by the special payment of UAH 15 million	750 or 500 subsistence minimums	UAH 2,496,000 or UAH 1,664,000	The amount depends on the causal link of death
Discharge of a contract servicemember or career servicemember	50% or 25% of monthly allowance for each full year	Individual calculation	The grounds for discharge and length of service are taken into account
Discharge of a mobilized servicemember	4% of monthly allowance for each full month of service	Not less than 25% of monthly allowance	Without combat and one-time rewards
First contract	8, 9, or 10 subsistence minimums	Enlisted personnel — UAH 26,624; sergeants and petty officers — UAH 29,952; officers — UAH 33,280	Payment is made only after the first contract and upon a report

The official OFA amounts for disability in 2026 have been confirmed by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. If the right arose in another year, the subsistence minimum established as of January 1 of that year, rather than the 2026 amount, may apply for calculation.

What documents are needed to receive OFA

Documents of a servicemember or discharged person

The basic package for applying for assistance in connection with disability or partial loss of working capacity includes:

1. an application for payment of OFA or the relevant report;
2. consent to personal data processing;
3. a copy of a passport or another identity document;
4. a copy of the RNOKPP or passport page with a note on refusal to obtain it;
5. bank details of an account in the recipient’s name;
6. an extract from the EKOPFO decision on the disability group or percentage of loss of working capacity;
7. the VLK resolution on causal link;
8. a certificate on the circumstances of injury, an official investigation report, or another document on the causes and circumstances of the injury;
9. medical discharge summaries and other treatment documents;
10. an extract from the order on removal from the personnel lists — for a discharged person.

When disability or loss of working capacity is established due to illness, a certificate on the circumstances of injury is not submitted. If a reassessment has taken place, previous MSEC or EKOPFO decisions and documents on the previously paid amount may additionally be required.

For assistance upon discharge, most information is prepared by the financial service of the military unit. After the first contract, the servicemember submits a report and, if necessary, attaches a copy of the contract.

Documents of the family of a fallen servicemember

Each adult recipient submits a separate application. Depending on the applicant’s status, the following may be required:

1. passport and RNOKPP;
2. death certificate and extract from the civil status act record;
3. documents confirming family ties: marriage, birth, or adoption certificate;
4. a court decision on living as one family without registered marriage;
5. documents on incapacity for work, disability, or dependency;
6. documents of the legal representative of a child or legally incapacitated person;
7. bank details;
8. notarized refusal of a share, if such refusal is executed;
9. documents on change of surname or discrepancies in personal data.

The military unit separately transfers an extract from the order on removing the fallen servicemember from the personnel lists, materials on the circumstances of the fatality or death, information about family composition, and other service documents.

How and where to submit documents for OFA

1. Determine the grounds for payment. It is necessary to clarify which specific OFA is involved and which provision regulates its granting.
2. Prepare medical and service documents. In cases after injury, it is necessary to obtain a certificate on the circumstances of injury, a VLK resolution, and an EKOPFO decision.
3. Prepare an application or report. The document states the grounds for payment, information about the applicant, and bank account details.
4. Submit the document package. When applying in person, originals should be available for certifying copies. Documents may also be sent by registered mail with an inventory of enclosures.
5. Receive a decision. The authorized body checks the materials and transfers them to the commission, which grants the payment or refuses it.
6. Wait for the funds to be transferred. After financing, the money is transferred to the account specified by the applicant. For OFA in the amount of UAH 15 million, a phased schedule applies.

Situation	Where to submit documents
The servicemember continues service	To the military unit at the place of service
The person has been discharged from service	Discharged from the Armed Forces of Ukraine — to the district TCR; discharged from another formation — to the relevant body
The family of a fallen servicemember applies	Regarding a servicemember of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — to the district or city TCR regardless of the place of registration; regarding other formations — to the relevant agency
Electronic submission is available	Through the designated electronic service only for categories covered by its conditions

As of August 14, 2026, not all types of OFA can be universally applied for through Diia. In spring 2026, the Ministry of Defense electronic service for active servicemembers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was undergoing beta testing. The comprehensive service for defenders launched on the Diia portal in June includes separate assistance from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, which should not automatically be equated with OFA under Articles 16–16³ of Law No. 2011-XII. Before submission, it is necessary to check whether the required service is available specifically for the relevant category and grounds.

Time limit for applying and consideration of documents

Type of assistance	Time limit for application or granting	Features of consideration
Disability or partial loss of working capacity	No later than three years from the date specified in the MSEC or EKOPFO decision	The documents are checked by the military unit or TCR, after which they are considered by the relevant commission
Fatality or death	No later than three years from the date of the civil status act record of death	All potential recipients and the existence of a personal instruction are checked
First contract	The report is submitted after the contract enters into force, appointment to a position, and commencement of duties	Payment is made on the basis of the commander’s order
Discharge	Accrued during final settlement upon discharge	If the payment is absent, the servicemember may demand the calculation in writing and challenge inaction

The Ministry of Defense commission considers materials on disability or loss of working capacity after receiving the full package of documents. The procedure usually takes about four months, but it may be delayed due to additional requests, errors in documents, or waiting for financing. The adoption of a decision does not mean immediate receipt of funds; in particular, payments to families of fallen servicemembers are made in stages.

Why OFA payment may be refused

Common grounds for refusal

Most often, problems with granting assistance arise due to:

1. absence of a proper causal link between the health condition and the performance of service duties;
2. absence of disability or an established percentage of loss of working capacity;
3. an incomplete package of documents or discrepancies in them;
4. absence of a legal ground for the specific type of OFA;
5. missing the three-year application period;
6. establishment of partial loss of working capacity after the expiry of the prescribed period after discharge;
7. submission of false information;
8. receiving an injury as a result of a criminal or administrative offense;
9. being under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, or toxic substances at the time of the event;
10. intentional self-infliction of bodily injury.

An incomplete package of documents should not always lead to the final loss of the right. If the required document exists or can be issued, it is advisable to eliminate the deficiencies and resubmit the materials within the established period.

How to appeal a refusal

1. Obtain a written decision indicating the legal and factual grounds for refusal.
2. Check whether the type of OFA, applicant category, causal link, and time limits were determined correctly.
3. Correct deficiencies or attach missing documents if the problem is procedural.
4. File a complaint with a higher authority or apply to an administrative court.

The administrative complaint must refer to specific legal provisions and include documents that refute the commission’s conclusions. If the refusal is based on incorrect wording in the VLK or an EKOPFO decision, a separate appeal of the relevant medical decision may be needed first.

In court, it is possible to demand cancellation of the unlawful decision, reconsideration of the documents, or an obligation to grant assistance if all necessary legal circumstances have already been established.

How OFA differs from other military payments

Payment	What it is granted for	Frequency
OFA	For a specific one-time ground: disability, loss of working capacity, fatality, discharge, or first contract	One-time or in parts within one granted amount
Additional remuneration	For participation in hostilities or performance of defined combat and special tasks	Monthly in proportion to the period of participation or for the established period
Payments during treatment	Preservation of monetary allowance and additional remuneration subject to legal conditions	For the period of treatment, leave, or rehabilitation
Financial assistance	To resolve social and household issues on defined grounds	As a rule, once a year
Monetary allowance	For military service	Monthly

OFA after injury does not replace payments during treatment, additional remuneration, disability pension, or other social guarantees. Each of these payments has an independent ground and is processed separately.

Frequently Asked Questions about OFA

Can OFA be received several times?

OFA is not paid repeatedly on the same ground. An additional payment is possible if, after reassessment, a higher disability group or a higher percentage of loss of working capacity is established.

Is disability mandatory to receive the payment?

No. OFA may also be paid in case of partial loss of working capacity without disability, discharge from service, or conclusion of a first contract.

Can OFA be applied for after discharge from service?

Yes. It is important to comply with the application deadlines and confirm the grounds for payment, including the causal link between the injury and service.

Can documents for OFA be submitted through Diia?

Electronic submission is not available for all types of OFA. Before applying, it is necessary to check the availability of the relevant service in Diia.

Is one-time financial assistance taxed?

OFA in connection with fatality, death, disability, or loss of working capacity is not taxed. For other one-time payments, the tax regime is determined separately.

What should be done if the military unit does not issue the necessary documents?

Submit a written report listing the required documents and keep confirmation of its registration. Inaction may be challenged before higher command, an authorized body, or a court.