Transformation in Social Support: Ukraine's Legislative and Technological Leap Forward

Effective digital transformation in the realm of social support in Ukraine is only achievable with a meticulously developed legal and regulatory framework.

Currently, we are progressing in accordance with the Digital Transformation Strategy for the social sector, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. However, we are also collaborating with colleagues to develop the regulatory base, taking into account the changes and experiences we gain in the process of reforming systems.

A week ago, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, through Resolution No. 1130-2023-p, amended the regulations of the unified information system of the social sphere, initially approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on April 14, 2021, under Resolution No. 404 (by the way, does this number ring a bell?). The main changes introduced are:

• Structural Changes: The system has become more flexible and capable of development. The Ministry of Social Policy remains a key player, but now other bodies can be holders of their subsystems.
• Access Management: Not only social service specialists but also other institutions, government bodies, and local self-government can participate in the system, provided their rights and roles are legally regulated.
• Case Management: We are implementing a digital tool for case management, i.e., providing social services according to the individual needs of a person or family.
• Integration with Registers: The Unified System can now more easily exchange data with other state registers, making the development of information flows faster and more efficient.
• New Powers: The Ministry is now responsible for creating and modernizing data processing centers, allowing for the development of a robust infrastructure. These changes are aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of social support and ensuring better service for all of us.

Just yesterday, the Committee on Digital Transformation recommended that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the draft law №10068 on the Unified Social Register as a basis. The purpose of this bill is to regulate issues related to the filling, functioning, and administration of the Unified Social Register as a centralized system designed to store and account for electronic data of recipients of all types of social support provided by law.

We have also prepared a draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine "On Amendments to Some Acts of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Regarding the Maintenance of State Registers of Recipients of Housing Subsidies and Persons Entitled to Benefits". Among other things, it proposes that the core of the Unified Information System of the Social Sphere (UISSS) is the Unified Social Register (USR), and the Unified State Automated Register of Persons Entitled to Benefits (USARP) and the Unified State Register of Recipients of Housing Subsidies will become its part, simplifying access to information for officials and citizens. This project also proposes to define the procedure for access of social protection bodies and Administrative Service Centers to these subsystems of the USR for the purpose of generating documents for citizens in electronic form using a unique electronic identifier, which would confirm their social status.

I am grateful to the team, especially Tetiana Khomosh , Nataliia Kurash , Kristina Vitko, Alexander Kalinin, Morgun Natalia, Oksana Ovramenko, Yuriy Lobunets, Yuriy Konovalov, Valeriy Shtaba, and the legal department and other units of the Ministry of Social Policy for this painstaking work.

Progress would not be possible without the people's deputies, colleagues, and civil society, thanks to whom this is happening comprehensively and on a large scale. Together, we move forward!