Background information

The measures aims to help Ukrainian refugees to rent a dwelling and motivate owners to provide accommodation for rent by making sure the refugees have at least the initial funding for the dwelling. The Estonian National Social Insurance Board started concluding contracts with the local governments who will provide the compensation on 17 May 2022.

Content of measure

The Ukrainian refugees who have received temporary protection, whose residence is registered in the population register and who have and open-ended or a long-term rental contract may receive (or their landlord may receive) a one-off reimbursement of the initial payments related to the accommodation. This includes, for instance, costs related to the rent, brokerage, translation, primary furnishing. Each local government can decide the nature and extent of the costs that are compensated. The compensation is needs-based. The maximum amount is up to six times the subsistence level (€150) per family, which currently makes €900. It is planned to raise the subsistence level to €200 and so the compensation will increase to up to €1,200.

In total, €17 million is foreseen for the measure from the supplementary state budget, approved by the Parliament on 18 May 2022.

Use of measure

By 29 July 2022, the Social Insurance Board had signed contracts with almost all of the local governments (66 out of 79). 833 Ukrainian families have received the support.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Local / regional government Public support service providers	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement as case not in social partner domain	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only employers' organisations
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

The process and aims of involvement is not clear. However, the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities has stated that they have contributed in every way to the conclusion of administrative agreements between the Social Insurance Board and local governments.

Views and reactions

The Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities is pleased that the local governments have reacted quickly to the invitation to sign such agreements.

Sources

• 17 May 2022: Sotsiaalkindlustusamet sõlmib kohalike omavalitsustega sõjapõgenike eluaseme kulude hüvitamiseks halduslepinguid (Administrative agreements are being concluded between Social Insurance Board and local governments for renting costs compensations) (sotsiaalkindlustusamet.ee)
• 18 June 2022: Eluaseme üüritoetust saab taotleda juba enam kui pooltes omavalitsustes (Housing rental allowance can already be applied for in more than half of the local governments) (sotsiaalkindlustusamet.ee)
• 29 July 2022: Riigi toel on püsiva elukoha üürimist alustanud 833 Ukraina sõjapõgenike peret (833 families of Ukrainian war refugees have started renting permanent residences) (sotsiaalkindlustusamet.ee)