This year, the number of Ukrainian families who applied to the state for help in paying housing and communal services decreased.

According to the latest data of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, for January-February 2017 documents for registration of the subsidy were filed by 870 thousand 400 households. This is 5.7% less than for the same period in 2016.

True, the number of families already receiving subsidies from the state has significantly increased during the year. Since the beginning of this year, 1 million 55 thousand households have received compensation for housing and communal services. In the cities, 740 thousand families were assisted, and in rural areas - 315 thousand 200 families. Compared to the same period in 2016, the number of subsidies increased by 3,600 families, or by 0.3%.

It should be noted that according to the State Statistics Committee, in February 2017, 42.3% of families received compensation from the total number of households in Ukraine.

The largest number of subsidies was recorded in Sumy and Poltava oblasts (62.6% and 61.4%, respectively). The least number of consumers receiving a subsidy, lives in the Odessa region and Kiev (15.9 and 25.5% respectively).

Also during the year, the amount of state aid increased noticeably.

Thus, the average amount of compensation that was accrued in February 2017 amounted to 1,571 hryvnia 20 kopecks, which is 15.9% more than in February 2016. In January-February 2017, the subsidies are calculated for the total amount of 1 billion 636 million 100 thousand hryvnia. Of these, 1 billion 58 million 500 thousand hryvnia - in cities and 577 million 600 thousand hryvnia - in rural areas. For the same period in 2016, the subsidy was spent 1 billion 406 million 500 thousand hryvnia.