Optimization and digitalization of administrative procedures for providing social guarantees to families of deceased military servants: foreign experience and Ukrainian realities

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the administrative procedures for providing social guarantees to the families of deceased military personnel in Ukraine, justifying the urgent need for their radical optimization and systematic digitization. The challenges associated with the current situation are examined in detail through the prism of a fragmented legal framework and numerous conflicts, the lack of a “single window” mechanism, and significant red tape. Attention is paid to the problems of proving the circumstances of death, regarding missing persons, death outside the direct combat zone, or death because of psychological trauma, which creates a significant administrative and psychological burden on families. The study is based on a systematic comparative analysis of progressive foreign experience in implementing e-government and automated systems in the field of social protection for veterans. Successful models have been identified in countries such as the United States, Canada, Israel, and Estonia, which demonstrate the effectiveness of centralized digital platforms, automated interagency data exchange, and integrated case management systems. Based on the analysis, key challenges hindering digital transformation in Ukraine were identified, including legal (outdated legislation, the need to adapt to electronic document management and the “digital by default” principle), technical (interoperability of registries, cybersecurity), organizational (bureaucratic inertia, the need for staff training and funding), and human (the level of digital literacy of the population, accessibility of services). As a result, scientifically based recommendations are proposed to implement innovative approaches, including legislative reforms, the creation of a unified digital platform, the integration of a case management system, and the introduction of automated data exchange mechanisms. The implementation of these proposals is intended to ensure transparency, speed, accessibility, and a people-centered approach to receiving appropriate payments and services, thereby increasing trust in state institutions and ensuring decent support for the families of Ukraine’s fallen defenders. Keywords: digitalization, e-government, social protection, social guarantees, families of deceased military personnel, administrative procedures.