Calculatorpreliminary calculation
Social leave for children
Additional child social leave calculator for 2026
Before filing with a Kyiv employer, check with HR how many days have already been deducted from the 2026 entitlement. If you work in Kyiv region but previous leave was taken with another employer, check that employer’s orders too. The calculator shows a preliminary annual limit and the balance for confirmed grounds; it does not establish entitlement based on family composition.
Check days for 2026
Enter only confirmed independent grounds and days used from the entitlement for calendar year 2026.
Enter a whole number from 0 to 17. For the ground “two or more children under 15”, the age limit applies only to that ground, not to all categories in Article 19.
Preliminary balance for 2026
Calendar days onlySelect confirmed grounds, enter the whole number of days used from the 2026 entitlement, and confirm the check. Used days may not exceed the annual limit.
How 10 or 17 days are determined
Article 19 of the Law “On Leave” and Article 182¹ of the Labour Code provide for additional social leave of 10 calendar days for one qualifying ground. With multiple independent grounds, the total cannot exceed 17 calendar days. Under the relevant ground, the leave is available to one of the parents.
The categories in Article 19 differ. They include, among others, one parent of two or more children under 15, a child with a disability, an adoptive parent, a single mother, a father raising a child without the mother, a guardian, or a foster parent. The under-15 age limit expressly relates to the ground concerning two or more children; do not extend it to all other cases.
This entitlement is for a calendar year, not a working year. The calculator includes only the entitlement for 2026 and does not add balances from prior years. If prior-year leave was used in 2026, do not subtract those days here again. According to the State Labour Service’s guidance, unused entitlements may remain, but they should be checked separately.
During martial law, under Article 6 of Law No. 2136-IX, public holidays and non-working days are not excluded from the duration. Article 12 provides special rules for granting and paying leave beyond annual basic leave; the employer may grant this type of leave without pay. An employer may also refuse leave to an employee engaged in work at critical infrastructure facilities. The result shows only possible calendar days and does not guarantee that leave will be granted or paid.
Calculation methodology
Preliminary result methodology
- Check each independent ground under Article 19 and evidence that the other parent did not use the relevant entitlement in 2026.
- Reduce the count to 0, 1, or 2+ without automatically inferring it from marital status.
- Use whole calendar days from HR records that were deducted from the 2026 leave entitlement, regardless of when the leave was taken.
- Apply the annual limit of 0, 10, or 17 days and subtract days used. If the data conflicts with the limit, no result is displayed.
Example for a Kyiv employer
An employee of a Kyiv institution has two independently documented grounds. Personnel records show that 7 days have been deducted from her 2026 entitlement.
- 2 independent grounds
- 7 days deducted from the entitlement for 2026
Preliminary annual limit — 17 days; estimated balance — 10 calendar days.
The result does not establish entitlement or guarantee approval of a particular leave period.
What to prepare for the application
- Documents supporting the relevant grounds: birth, adoption, guardianship, disability-status certificates, or other evidence for the specific category.
- The appropriate document showing that the other parent did not use the relevant social leave in 2026; there is no exhaustive list of documents.
- A personnel certificate or extract confirming days credited toward the 2026 leave entitlement, separately from use of balances from previous years.
- Written application with the requested dates and copies of supporting documents; keep proof of filing.
- If there is a period of childcare leave, provide documents showing the dates of that period for a separate legal review.
Official sources
- Law of Ukraine “On Leave”Article 19 defines the eligible persons, a 10-day entitlement, and a 17-day cap where several grounds apply.
- Labour Code of UkraineArticle 182¹ establishes additional social leave for employees with children.
- Law No. 2136-IX on employment relations during martial lawArticles 6 and 12 govern holiday rules, the granting of leave, and possible leave pay.
- Decision of the Constitutional Court No. 3-r/2026Constitutionality review of the special leave rules in Article 12 of Law No. 2136-IX during martial law.
- State Labour Service guidance on social leaveExplains the calendar year, the other parent’s documents, accumulation, and the Ministry of Economy’s position on childcare leave.
- State Labour Service: how to confirm that the other parent did not use the entitlementExplains that there is no closed list of evidence, including where the other parent is not working.
- Prepared
- The methodology was prepared by the website editorial team based on official sources.
- Checked
- The calculation has been reviewed by a lawyer; no personal data was published.
- Important
- The result is preliminary: it does not confirm the grounds, the other parent’s use of leave, or the employer’s decision.
Current as of . The calculation is preliminary and depends on the documents and circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
Do two children always qualify for 17 days?
No. Two or more children under 15 constitute one ground for 10 days. An additional independent qualifying ground is required for the 17-day limit.
Must all of the children be under 15?
No. The age limit of under 15 expressly applies to the ground involving two or more children. Other categories under Article 19 are checked under their own conditions.
Will leave be reduced if only part of 2026 was worked?
According to the State Labour Service’s guidance, entitlement to the full duration is tied to the calendar year and is not proportional to months worked. Entitlement and specific childcare periods must still be checked against documents.
What about unused days from previous years?
The State Labour Service notes that unused days may accumulate and be compensated upon dismissal where there is an entitlement. This calculator does not total previous years; request the employment records by year.
Are public holidays taken into account during martial law?
Yes, while the relevant provision of Law No. 2136-IX is in force, Article 73 of the Labour Code does not apply, so public holidays and non-working days are not excluded from the duration.
Can the employer refuse leave or grant unpaid leave?
For an employee assigned to work at critical infrastructure facilities, Law No. 2136-IX provides for a right to refuse. Article 12 also allows an employer to grant unpaid leave beyond the annual basic leave at its discretion. Ask in writing which rule was applied to your request.
Free initial consultation
Is there uncertainty about the grounds or the employer’s response?
We can help in Kyiv and Kyiv Region reconcile leave orders and records by year, check the grounds, and prepare a reasoned request to the employer.
- the calculator result can serve as a reference for a conversation
- documents, deadlines, or contract terms may change the conclusion
- briefly describe the circumstances in the form if needed