What Ukrainian Mothers of Seriously Ill Children Need to Know About Early Retirement
Ukraine’s social protection system continues to evolve and adapt to the real needs of its population, particularly regarding early retirement rights for mothers caring for seriously ill children.
According to the Pension Fund of Ukraine, women who raise children with severe illnesses but without a formal disability status are eligible for early retirement once their children reach the age of six.As per Article 115, paragraph 3 of the law “On Compulsory State Pension Insurance,” mothers who care for a child under six years with conditions such as severe perinatal nervous system damage, serious congenital anomalies, rare organ diseases, oncological illnesses, cerebral palsy, or insulin-dependent Type 1 diabetes, have the right to receive early age-based pension benefits.
Eligibility requires at least 15 years of insurance experience, and confirmation of the child’s illness is issued through relevant certificates or allowances by authorized bodies.The term “seriously ill child with no established disability” is defined in Article 1 of the same law.
Such children include those suffering from various critical conditions — from severe perinatal neurological damage to chronic kidney diseases of stage IV, or those who have sustained major injuries requiring organ transplantation.
Recognizing a child as seriously ill involves official documentation from medical or social service agencies.Additionally, the Pension Fund highlighted that in 2025, the number of recipients of social payments and pensions increased, indicating expanded social support measures.
However, experts warn that rising payout amounts do not necessarily translate into significant improvements in the quality of life for pensioners or overall social welfare.
More details on the current challenges faced by pensioners and the broader social protection issues can be found in Viktor Konev’s article “Pension Report: New and Old Problems for Pensioners” on ZN.UA.