Pension Increase: What You Need to Know About Over-Standard Service and Its Impact on Payments
Every year, Ukraine witnesses an increase in the minimum insurance period required to retire on old-age pension, leading to a higher number of retirees with longer work experience.
According to recent regulations, some citizens are eligible for additional payments for exceeding the standard insured service period.
The Main Department of the Pension Fund of Ukraine in Vinnytsia region clarified when and how such allowances are granted, as well as the potential amount of these payments.
It is explained that for each full year of ‘extra’ insurance experience, the pension can be increased by 1% of its base amount.
The definition of over-standard service varies depending on the pension’s grant date; for pensions assigned before October 2011, it exceeds 25 years for men and 20 years for women.
For pensions granted after this date, the threshold is over 35 years for men and 30 for women.
Importantly, if the insured period surpasses these limits, pensioners are entitled to additional payments.
However, such additions are capped at 1% of the minimum subsistence level, which in 2025 amounts to 2,361 UAH.
Consequently, each extra year of service adds approximately 23.61 UAH to the pension, and ten such years result in around 236 UAH additional monthly income.
For working pensioners, the calculation is based on the minimum living wage at the time of pension appointment, but this amount may be adjusted after employment termination according to updated data.
Data for the first half of 2025 confirms an increase in pension recipients and higher payouts, reflecting a modest improvement in social support for retirees.
Nonetheless, experts warn that these increases are more indicative than directly improving living standards significantly.
Further details and challenges of the pension system are discussed in Viktor Konev’s article published on ZN.UA.