"Winter Support" in 2025: What's Changed and Where Can You Spend 1000 UAH Now?

For the second year in a row, the state is paying Ukrainians "Winter Support" – UAH 1,000 in aid. For data According to the Ministry of Economy, in 2024, Ukrainians directed UAH 3.8 billion of support to pay for utility services, another UAH 1.4 billion to mobile communications and the Internet, and in third place were catering establishments, where Ukrainians directed UAH 386 million.This year, aid cannot be spent on all of these categories. What can the funds be spent on and where is payment already working?How and where can you get the "winter thousand"?Ukrainians can receive the "winter thousand" through the "Diia" app or at bank branches Ukrposhta.The second option is for those who already receive state payments in this way. If a person is a pensioner aged 60 or over, has a disability of group I-II or from childhood, or receives state social payments through Ukrposhta branches, an additional UAH 1,000 will be automatically credited along with their pension or assistance – without submitting an application. Payments will be made until the end of December 2025.These funds can be used for cashless payments: for utility bills, charitable contributions, and for the purchase of Ukrainian-made goods sold by Ukrposhta, including medicines and food products. The program does not provide for cash withdrawals.Read also"Winter Thousand". The number of applications for assistance has already exceeded last year's.Those who find it difficult or impossible to apply through Diia can also use the "Winter Support" program via Ukrposhta. This applies to legal guardians of children, citizens without an identification code, people without a smartphone or the Diia app, and in cases where a child's birth certificate cannot be added to the app, particularly if it is a foreign document.Where can the funds be spent?Once the funds are credited, they can only be spent according to clearly defined rules. This year, the list of permitted expenses has been significantly reduced. It does not include, in particular, mobile communications, the internet, or catering establishments.It is also not possible to spend money on buying government bonds. In 2024, such an opportunity was available.As of December 2025, funds from the "National Cashback" card can be used for:payment of utility bills;medicinal products;books and other printed materials;postal services;charitable contributions, in particular to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.There are about 100 charitable foundations to which you can donate a "thousand of support". The largest are the Serhiy Prytula Foundation, Sternenko's Community, Come Back Alive, Azov.One, Support the Third Assault, Patronage Service Angels, UAnimals, and others.Read alsoControl over banking operations is increasing. Why has financial monitoring been tightened and how not to become a "suspicious" client?An important innovation is that you can now pay for food with the current "Winter Support" program. However, you can only buy goods in offline stores and only excise-free products.In which stores is payment already available?You can pay with "Winter Support" funds in thousands of supermarkets and stores across Ukraine. Initially, these were chains Fozzy Group – Silpo, "Fora", Thrash!, as well as Lviv's "Blyzenko". Later, they were joined by Auchan, Varus, Spar, Torba, "Vopak" and "Simi".Currently, you can only buy groceries for the "Winter Support" program in physical stores, and the selection varies – it depends on the city and region.In addition to grocery stores, funds can be spent in pharmacies, particularly in the largest chains in the country. ANC, Plantain, Pharmacy 9-1-1, We wish you health., Good Day Pharmacy.Bookstore chains and publishers are also connected to the program, including: "Knygarnya Ye", Yakaboo, Book.ua, KSD, "Vydavnytstvo Staroho Leva", Vivat, etc.Read alsoMoney from thin air. How much can you earn from cashback and who pays for the generosity?However, even in stores participating in the program, not all goods can be paid for with "Winter Support". Only those produced in Ukraine and not subject to excise duty.The accrued funds must be spent by June 30, 2026. After that, the unused balance will automatically be returned to the state budget.