Multiple groups of citizens receive compensations and benefits due to the Chernobyl disaster, including the responders who worked at the Chernobyl NPP or within the exclusion zone and those involved in eliminating the consequences of the accident: army servicemen, officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, firefighters, etc. People evacuated from the exclusion zone or resettled to other locations, first responders' widows and their minor children are also entitled to social welfare.
To receive their due payments, they have to apply to the Social Fund via the Gosuslugi Portal, at the Fund's customer offices or through a multifunctional center. If the application is submitted via the Gosuslugi Portal, certain additional documents may be required. Those should be submitted to the local office of the Fund within 5 business days after the arrival of the application and registration notice.
In most cases, a certificate confirming the first responder or radiation victim status is required to receive Chernobyl survivors' benefits. Documents confirming an acquired health condition or employment and residence in the Chernobyl zone may also be required. Families of first responders or disabled Chernobyl victims have to provide the proof of kinship to receive welfare. The document is issued to the name of a first responder or a disabled Chernobyl victim and marked as 'posthumous'.
The Social Fund sends the complete list of required documents for each specific case to the recipient's personal account on the Gosuslugi Portal along with the message confirming that the application has been received and registered. Concurrently, they provide information regarding the specific day and time to bring the documents to a customer office.
Those who want to submit a benefit application in person at a local branch of the Social Fund or a multifunctional center can call the unified call center for social issues at the toll-free number 8-800-10-000-01 prior to their visit. Operators will advise the caller exactly which documents may be required for Chernobyl benefits in a given situation.
Remember that those affected by the Chernobyl disaster are entitled to various welfare benefits, including a monthly cash allowance, a food compensation, a compensation for children's meals at educational institutions and specialized healthcare and resort facilities. On top of that, the list of Chernobyl victims' benefits includes an additional paid leave, an annual health recovery compensation, and a lump-sum compensation for health damage.