New pension service requirements from 2026: who will have to wait longer for retirement

New requirements for insurance experience in Ukraine

According to ХВИЛЯ: From January 1, 2026, new insurance experience requirements for retirement will come into effect in Ukraine, which may lead to delayed payments. According to the new rules, the minimum insurance experience for retirement at 60 will increase by one year each year until 2028. In 2025, to retire at 60, one will need to have at least 32 years of experience, and in 2026, this requirement will increase to at least 33 years of insurance experience.

Features of retirement

Particular attention should be paid to those who turn 60 in 2026. If a person has at least 25 years of experience, the right to retire may arise at 63, which will happen in 2029. If the experience is insufficient, the pension will be assigned at 65, provided that there are at least 15 years of insurance experience.

Changes in legislation concern data for periods after January 1, 2004, which will be taken from the personalized accounting system. This means that Ukrainians should be attentive to accumulating insurance experience, as the new requirements may influence their pension payments.

The introduction of new insurance experience requirements is aimed at improving the pension system in Ukraine, but it may raise concerns among citizens planning to retire.

Increasing the experience requirements may lead to some people having to work longer to gain rights to a pension. This is particularly relevant for those approaching retirement age, as these changes could significantly impact their financial stability in the future.