How to properly process pensions for Ukrainian combatants: step-by-step guide and key considerations
Ukraine continues to support its defenders, particularly war veterans (UBD), by granting them the right to receive pensions and other social benefits.
Amid ongoing warfare and martial law, the procedure for registering pensions for servicemen has gained increased importance.
Ukrainian military personnel with the status of combatants can qualify for two main types of pension payments.
The first — based on length of service, ranging from 50% to 70% of their salary, depending on years of service.
The second — disability pension, which can be from 40% to 100% of the base salary, considering the disability group and cause.
This applies to officers, warrant officers, sailors, conscripts, and contract military personnel.The pension amount depends on several components: official salaries, military ranks, seniority bonuses, and additional monthly payments.
It is important to note that lump-sum payments, issued for combat or special tasks in amounts of 30, 50, 70, or 100 thousand hryvnias, are not considered in pension calculations.The process of registering a pension for combatants involves several key steps.
First, obtain relevant orders—either on discharge or unit orders—and military unit calculations concerning payable amounts.
Next, form personnel files and forward them to the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TRSC and SSC).
The military unit provides certificates of salary and additional remunerations.Subsequently, open a pension account in a government-approved bank and submit an application to the TRSC and SSC.
Essential documents include a passport, taxpayer identification number (TIN), bank account statement, military pension certificate, additional pay certificates, and documents confirming insurance service period and disability, if applicable.
The process concludes with the Pension Fund assigning the pension and notifying the retiree.Although Ukraine’s average pension has increased, it lags behind inflation, highlighting the ongoing need for reforms to better support veterans and military personnel.