Pensioners on TOT and abroad have a month and a half left: what will happen to the payments

According to hvylya.net: Ukrainian pensioners belonging to certain categories have only a month and a half left to undergo mandatory physical identification. This procedure is necessary for the Pension Fund to confirm that the recipient is indeed receiving state payments. Otherwise, pension payments will be suspended, and resuming them can become a real headache.

Journalist Irina Polyakova answered the most common questions regarding identification.

'There is only a month and a half left to pass the identification - a procedure that the Pension Fund requires to confirm that you are alive and receiving payments from the state precisely you,' emphasizes the expert.

If you do not undergo verification in time, payments will be suspended starting from January 1, 2024. Money will continue to be credited to your account, but you will only be able to use it after passing the identification.

Who needs to undergo identification and by when

The mandatory identification by December 31, 2025, applies only to three categories of pensioners: those living in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, those who fled from occupation to territory controlled by Ukraine, and those who went abroad.

If a pensioner has already personally contacted the Pension Fund office or bank where they receive payments this year, there is no need to go through the procedure again. 'No. If you have already contacted the Pension Fund or bank in person this year, the identification is considered passed,' explains Irina Polyakova.

Four ways to confirm your identity

There are several convenient ways to undergo identification, depending on your location and possibilities.

• Those living in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
• Those who fled from occupation to territory controlled by Ukraine.
• Those who went abroad.

Identification in occupied territories. For residents of TOT, the most optimal options are video identification or using 'Diia.Signature'. Although this is technically difficult due to internet problems and blocking of Ukrainian resources, there are currently no other ways.

Communication problems and special needs. If you have applied for a video connection but PFCU has not responded for over a month, it is advisable to call hotlines or send written requests. During video identification, you can use a foreign phone number, as long as you have access to the messenger (Viber, Telegram, WhatsApp) specified in the application. If you need help from a relative or a sign language interpreter, you must inform the PFCU specialist at the beginning of the session.

Paying utility bills is not identification. It is important to understand that regularly paying utility fees from a pension card does not count as identity verification. 'No. Paying utility bills from the PFCU's point of view is just a financial transaction, not a confirmation of your identity,' notes the journalist.

Pensioners are advised not to procrastinate and choose the most convenient way for themselves to undergo identification to ensure uninterrupted receipt of pension payments in the new year.

All pensioners belonging to certain categories must successfully undergo identification by the end of the year to avoid payment suspension from the next year. Verifying one's identity is an important procedure that allows the Pension Fund to confirm pension recipients and ensure their uninterrupted funding. None of the economic operations, including paying utility bills, can replace this mandatory identification.