Ukraine's Pension Fund Mandates Notification for Russian Payments: Who Must Comply and How

Announcement from Ukraine's Pension Fund

According to Главком: Ukraine's Pension Fund has issued a directive requiring specific groups of citizens to formally declare that they are not receiving pension or insurance payments from the Russian Federation. This requirement applies to individuals residing in temporarily occupied territories, those who have relocated from such areas to Ukrainian-controlled territory, and those living abroad either temporarily or permanently. This measure is part of ongoing efforts to maintain the integrity of Ukraine's social support systems during the ongoing conflict.

New Requirements and Procedures

Individuals who underwent physical identification between January 1, 2025, and February 1, 2026, must submit this notification by February 1, 2026. Failure to submit by this deadline will result in pension payments continuing only until April 1, 2026. Payments will be calculated from the date of identification but will not extend beyond the April cutoff date.

In 2026, the minimum pension level will be adjusted, as it will be linked to a new subsistence minimum that is set to increase to 3,200 hryvnias. This promises to improve the financial situation for many pensioners in Ukraine, provided they fulfill the new notification requirements.

Ukrainian citizens who have worked in both Ukraine and Poland are entitled to receive two pensions-one from the Ukrainian Pension Fund and another from Poland's Social Insurance Institution (ZUS). This creates an additional avenue for financial support for eligible individuals.

To inform the Pension Fund, individuals can use several methods:

• Submit the notification online;
• File it during a video conference call with an official from the Main Department of the Pension Fund of Ukraine;
• Send it via postal mail;
• Apply in person at a Pension Fund service center.

These steps are crucial for ensuring the continuity of payments and compliance with the new regulations set by the Pension Fund.

This initiative by the Pension Fund is part of broader efforts to refine Ukraine's social security system, particularly under the challenging conditions of war and instability.

Adhering to these new requirements underscores the need for active participation by beneficiaries in the pension process, which can significantly impact their financial well-being. Concurrently, the changes to the minimum pension amount may represent an important step toward improving the lives of retirees in Ukraine, especially amid rising living costs.