As of January 1, 2025, updated requirements for insurance experience for retirement age came into effect in Ukraine.
How much work is required?
According to the Law “On Compulsory State Pension Insurance”, citizens can qualify for a pension under the following conditions:
- At age 60: at least 32 years of insurance experience are required.
- At age 63: between 22 and 32 years of insurance experience are sufficient.
- At age 65: between 15 and 22 years of insurance experience are needed.
These changes are part of a gradual increase in insurance experience requirements which began in 2018. Every year, the required experience for retirement at age 60 increases by one year. Therefore, in 2024, the requirement was 31 years, and in 2025, it became 32 years. This process will continue until 2028, when 35 years of insurance experience will be needed for retirement at age 60.
It is worth noting that the retirement pension is granted from the day following the day of reaching retirement age, provided that the application for its appointment is submitted no later than three months after reaching this age.
Allowances
In addition to changes in insurance experience requirements, pension indexation is planned for 2025. According to information from the Budget Committee of the Verkhovna Rada, the minimum increase will be 100 UAH, and the maximum 1,500 UAH. Also, pensioners aged 70 to 80 can expect an additional allowance ranging from 300 to 570 UAH.
Why make changes?
The pension reform in Ukraine aims to ensure the stability of the pension system and its compliance with European standards. According to government plans, the reform process is expected to begin by July 2025. It is anticipated that this will lead to the reduction of special pension deals and the mitigation of legal risks associated with the current complex pension system.
Therefore, Ukrainian citizens should carefully follow changes in pension legislation and plan their work activity in advance to ensure the necessary insurance length for retirement at the desired age.
