In Romania, social support for Ukrainian refugees under temporary protection is provided, in particular, through the minimum inclusion income system; when determining eligibility for such assistance, the applicant’s total income is taken into account, including their Ukrainian state pension. This is stated in the explanations provided by the Dopomoha.ro portal.
According to the published information, Ukrainians under temporary protection in Romania are eligible for various social benefits under Law No. 196/2016 on the minimum inclusive income, as well as other support programs. The platform’s materials note that assistance depends on the applicant’s individual circumstances and legal status.
As indicated by publications on this topic, when transitioning to this support model, the authorities assess the household’s total income, and the Ukrainian pension is included in this calculation as income. This means that the amount of the Romanian social benefit may be reduced to account for the pension already received from Ukraine.
At the same time, other forms of assistance remain available to Ukrainians in Romania, including child benefits, support for mothers of newborns, unemployment benefits, and access to social services for people with disabilities. The amount and type of support depend on the specific category of the applicant and the documents submitted.
Thus, the key change for some Ukrainian refugees in Romania is that the pension from Ukraine is considered part of their total income and affects the amount of targeted social assistance they can receive under the Romanian system. According to Eurostat, as of the end of January 2026, there were over 193,000 people under temporary protection in Romania who had left Ukraine.
