Dear lawmakers: How much do citizens spend on the benefits and privileges of elected officials?

The legislation provides numerous benefits and privileges for people's deputies. This includes not only labor guarantees, such as extended leave or the provision of a working office, but also compensation for transportation and housing expenses.

In 2025, the total expense norm per deputy amounts to 2.28 million UAH. The majority of these funds are allocated for the salaries of assistant consultants.

What benefits do elected representatives have, and are there any restrictions on their receipt?

Labor Guarantees

Parliamentarians enjoy a range of labor guarantees. First and foremost, the period of service as a people's deputy counts towards their state service experience. This grants them the right to a longevity allowance and additional paid leave. The elected representative is assigned the first category, the first rank of a civil servant.

Deputies are entitled to 45 days of annual paid leave during the intersession period. Those elected representatives who retired before 2017 are entitled to special pensions amounting to 70% of the current monthly salary of a people's deputy, considering all allowances and bonuses to the official salary.

In 2017, the special conditions for calculating and retiring for deputies were replaced with provisions applicable to ordinary Ukrainians. In June 2024, a group of parliamentarians appealed to the Constitutional Court with a request to declare the abolition of the special retirement regime for former deputies unconstitutional; however, a decision on this matter has yet to be made.

Parliamentarians also have the right to free medical care in specialized institutions, which is also maintained for former deputies. Deputies who are prematurely stripped of their powers by the court may lose this option.

During their term of office, people's deputies are exempt from conscription.

After their term ends, people's deputies have the right to return to their previous job. A temporary contract is concluded with the employee who worked in the place of the people's servant, similar to a "maternity leave" position.

In the event of a deputy's death during any session, their burial is conducted at the expense of local executive authorities.

Elected officials also face restrictions: they cannot hold other paid positions or have a business. Since there is no direct accountability for violating this requirement, it is often disregarded. Apart from their primary parliamentary duties, they are only allowed to engage in teaching, scientific, and creative activities.

Benefits Related to Parliamentary Duties

People's deputies are granted privileges that assist them in their work. In particular, they are entitled to a separate technically equipped office within the premises of the Verkhovna Rada. Additionally, they may use government communication services for free while performing their parliamentary duties.

Elected representatives can have up to 31 assistant consultants, four of whom are registered in the state service. The remaining assistants receive salaries from the overall fund allocated in the parliament's budget.

Moreover, professional development of deputies, education at educational institutions (including postgraduate studies and master's programs), and foreign language learning are funded. Deputies are entitled to state protection for themselves and their family members (at home and during work hours).

Local state administrations must organize meetings between deputies and voters free of charge: all expenses are covered by local budgets.

Additional privileges are granted to the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada and his two deputies: facilities for official events, transportation, secretariat, security, and funds for representation purposes (up to 40% of the corresponding official salary).

Housing and Transportation Benefits

People's deputies enjoy housing benefits: the right to compensation for rental costs or hotel accommodations. Funds for rent are allocated to deputies who do not own property in Kyiv and are registered in a locality situated more than 30 km from the capital.

People's deputies can also benefit from transportation privileges: compensation for travel expenses (7,500 UAH per month in 2025) and priority access to tickets for any mode of transport. On flights, they are entitled to a business class ticket, and on passenger ships - first or second class tickets.

In addition, the Verkhovna Rada has a fleet of vehicles available to deputies. They are allowed to use these vehicles for up to 25 hours a month. However, they cannot travel to another region with them - only to the airport in Boryspil. Expenses incurred for the remaining journey can be reimbursed by arranging a business trip.

How Much Money is Allocated for Compensation

The total expense norm per deputy is 2.28 million UAH, as stated in the budget of the Verkhovna Rada for 2025. The majority of these funds are designated for the salary fund of assistant consultants. The least amount from this total is allocated for compensation of expenses related to organizing meetings with voters - 670 UAH per year.

A significant portion of expenses is for rent compensation. A deputy can receive up to 237,000 UAH per year (650 UAH per day). Lists of deputies receiving housing rent funds must be published quarterly in the "Golos Ukrainy" newspaper and monthly on the website of the Verkhovna Rada. This norm is enshrined in legislation.

The EP calculated that in 2024, nearly 26.4 million UAH was allocated from the state budget for compensations for deputies. The largest amount was received in December - over 4.7 million UAH. A total of 113 parliamentarians utilized the right to compensation. On average, each people's deputy received nearly 40,000 UAH.

Most deputies received these funds for December and November, while some received them for a longer period. For instance, Ihor Negulevskyi from the "Servant of the People" faction was compensated 119.6 thousand UAH for six months. Throughout 2024, the same elected representatives applied for compensation, but their numbers varied: from 88 in February to 113 in December.