Publication date: 05.06.2024
Increasing child support: The need for fairness and ensuring the well-being of children
Introduction
The issue of alimony is extremely important, as it concerns the provision of the most vulnerable group of the population - children. When a couple separates or lives apart, children often find themselves in a situation where one parent must regularly provide financial support for them. The amount of child support is a key factor that affects children's well-being and their ability to lead fulfilling lives. In 2024, the question of the need to revise and increase the amount of alimony in Ukraine has become acute in order to correspond to the increase in the cost of living and to ensure proper conditions for children.
The relevance of the issue of increasing alimony
According to the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, as of 2024, the average amount of alimony in the country is 2,500 hryvnias per month. However, taking into account the annual growth of inflation and the cost of essential goods and services, this amount can no longer be considered sufficient for the full maintenance of a child. Parents who receive alimony often complain that these funds do not cover even half of their child's needs, and they have to make significant efforts and funds of their own to provide them with decent living conditions.
Legislative aspects
The current legislation of Ukraine provides that the amount of alimony is determined as a percentage of the income of the payer of alimony. In particular, for one child - 1/4 of the income, for two children - 1/3 of the income, for three or more children - 1/2 of the income. However, this formula was established back in 2004 and has not been revised in any way since then.Taking into account the significant increase in the cost of living in Ukraine over the past 20 years, it is obvious that these percentages are already outdated and do not meet the real needs of children.
The need to review the amount of alimony
In order to provide children with decent living conditions, it is necessary to revise the current legislation and increase the amount of alimony. Experts offer several options for solving this problem:
-Increase of interest from the income of the alimony payer. For example, for one child - 1/3 of the income, for two children - 1/2 of the income, for three or more children - 2/3 of the income.
-Introduction of a subsistence minimum for a child, which would determine the minimum required amount of alimony regardless of the payer's income. This minimum can be revised annually, taking into account price increases.
- Establishing a fixed amount of alimony, which would be tied to the minimum wage or the average wage in Ukraine. For example, for one child - 1 minimum wage, for two children - 1.5 minimum wages, for three or more children - 2 minimum wages.
All these proposals are aimed at ensuring that alimony really meets the real needs of children and gives them the opportunity to lead a fulfilling life. Increasing alimony is not only a question of law, but also of ethics and social justice.
Impact of increased alimony on children's well-being
Increasing the amount of child support will have a significant positive impact on the lives of children who are raised separately from one of their parents. First, it will give them the opportunity to provide them with adequate food, clothing, housing and other necessities of life.Second, increasing child support would reduce the financial burden on single parents, who often have to work multiple jobs to support a child. This, in turn, will allow them to devote more time to raising and caring for the child.
In addition, a decent level of alimony can significantly improve the psychological state of children. After all, they will understand that parents who live separately are concerned about their provision and are ready to make efforts for their well-being. This will help strengthen family ties and reduce the feeling of alienation that sometimes occurs in children from single-parent families.
Conclusions
The issue of increasing alimony is extremely important for ensuring the well-being of children in Ukraine. The current amount of alimony no longer meets the real needs of children and should be revised in line with the rising cost of living. The introduction of new approaches to determining alimony, such as increasing the percentage of the payer's income, establishing a subsistence minimum for a child or a fixed amount tied to the minimum wage, will allow to significantly improve the standard of living of children from single-parent families and provide them with decent conditions for full development. This issue should become a key priority in the state's social policy, as it directly affects the future generation of Ukrainians.
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