Mandatory Physical Identification of Pensioners
The last day for mandatory physical identification for certain categories of pensioners is set for December 31, 2025. Identification applies to pensioners residing abroad as well as individuals living in temporarily occupied territories. This is an important step, as after the specified date, the Pension Fund will suspend payments to those who do not complete identification on time.
As of the end of December 2025, the procedure has been completed by at least 400 thousand individuals. The frequency of checks for the specified categories of pensioners will be no less than once a year. It is important to note that work experience acquired before January 1, 2004, is confirmed by entries in the labor book.
Comments from the Representative of the Pension Fund
'Pension payments will be suspended. But I want to reassure you that this does not cancel the decision on pension appointment.'
Irina Kovpashko, Representative of the Pension Fund
She also added that identification applies to those who remain living in the temporarily occupied territory and continue to receive payments into bank accounts. 'If this person needs assistance or requires any special skills, such as sign language because the person, for example, is deaf, they indicate this in the application,' Kovpashko emphasized.
Thus, individuals subject to identification can be divided into two categories:
- Pensioners and beneficiaries of insurance payments who are temporarily abroad.
- Individuals living in temporarily occupied territories and receiving pensions into bank accounts.
This procedure is vital for ensuring the stability of pension payments and supporting the social protection of citizens.
The introduction of mandatory identification of pensioners who are abroad or in temporarily occupied territories aims to reduce the risks of abusing the social payment system. In the context of modern challenges, such as military conflicts and economic difficulties, this initiative may assist the state in better controlling expenditures on social programs and ensuring targeted aid to the most vulnerable categories of the population.