Estonia cuts aid to Ukrainian refugees: who will lose payments from May 2025?

Estonia is changing the format of assistance for Ukrainian refugees, canceling payments for rent and translation. Find out who will lose support from May 2025 and how to prepare for the new rules

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Ukrainians who took refuge in Estonia after russia's full-scale invasion will soon face changes in the support system. According to ERR, this means the termination of a number of cash payments that have been helping refugees adapt to life in a new country since 2022. Starting in May 2025, some of these programs will be canceled.

Cancellation of compensation for housing rent and translation in Estonia: reasons

One of the key forms of assistance introduced by Estonia in 2022 for Ukrainian refugees was a one-time compensation for housing costs. The purpose of the program was to provide financial support to people who were looking for housing outside of state accommodation centers on their own.

According to official data, from June 2022 to April 2025, almost 11 thousand households received compensation, 62% of which were in Tallinn. The maximum amount of compensation was up to €1,200 per family.

However, from May 2025, these payments will be stopped. The reason for this is the end of cooperation between the Estonian Social Insurance Board and the Tallinn Department of Social Welfare and Health. This means that new applications for compensation will no longer be accepted.

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Along with the termination of housing compensation, financial support for translation services will also be canceled. These payments were previously provided to Ukrainians to pay for translation services in cases where a language barrier made it difficult to integrate or access basic services.

It should be borne in mind that the changes to the provision of assistance were announced in Tallinn. However, according to the Estonian broadcaster ERR, the Social Insurance Department is considering terminating similar arrangements with other local governments. This will create a single standard of assistance across the country, regardless of the region where refugees live.

It will also avoid situations where Ukrainians in some cities can count on more than others. From now on, the key criterion for receiving assistance will not be the place of residence, but the real need for support.

Is support for Ukrainians in Estonia disappearing completely?

Despite the cancellation of several programs, the Estonian authorities assure that assistance to Ukrainians is not stopped, but transformed. This was stated by Liis Paloots, Head of the Migration Division of the Social Insurance Department.

“We are gradually moving to the usual procedure, in which support is provided primarily to those who apply for international or temporary protection, do not have a support network in Estonia and live in state accommodation centers,” she said.

This means that assistance will remain available to the most vulnerable categories of Ukrainians, including those who are staying in temporary accommodation centers and waiting for a decision on granting protection.

We remind you! Starting in April 2025, Germany plans to update the rules of payments for refugees from Ukraine. Instead of civil assistance, they will receive smaller amounts, just like other asylum seekers. Read who will be affected by the new rules and what amounts are provided in our previous article.

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