From 2026, Ukraine plans major pension system changes. Lawmakers have increased their salaries to 200,000 UAH, but such amounts won’t be available to pensioners. Moreover, certain special pensioners, including judges, prosecutors, Chernobyl liquidators, military personnel, police, SBU, DBR, and some civil servants, will face payment cuts. The restriction applies to those whose pensions exceed 10 minimum subsistence levels (in 2026 — 25,950 UAH). The Pension Fund states that only the part exceeding this amount will be reduced using a progressive scale.
At the same time, the minimum pension is expected to rise to 2,564 UAH in 2026. Pension indexation will be carried out, but not for everyone: those who retired in the last three years or receive special pensions will be excluded. New pensioners already have up-to-date rates factored in their calculations.
The subsistence minimum and minimum wage will also increase in 2026. There will be age-related bonuses for pensioners aged 70, 75, and 80, and additional payments for certain categories such as disabled people, honorary donors, Chornobyl zone residents, and lonely elderly persons.
Pension eligibility requirements will become stricter: from 2026, people will need 33 years of work experience to retire at 60. For teachers working abroad, special verification and documentation are required for their service time to count toward pensions. Those unable to confirm work experience risk losing pension rights.
Additionally, pensioners from temporarily occupied territories or currently abroad must complete identification by the end of 2025. Otherwise, from 2026, they may lose access to pension payments.
According to the Pension Fund, the average pension in 2023 was around 6,500 UAH, but many pensioners receive less than the subsistence minimum. Pension payments in Ukraine remain among the lowest in Europe.
