In 2026, Ukraine will increase the requirements for the minimum insurance period needed to qualify for an age-based pension. Future retirees should check whether they have enough years of work experience.
Source: PRYAMYI
Minimum work experience for retirement in 2026:
- 60 years — at least 33 years of insurance period;
- 63 years — from 23 to 33 years;
- 65 years — from 15 to 23 years.
For example, if a person has 28 years of experience, they will not be able to retire at 60 and will only be eligible at 63.
What counts towards the insurance period:
- Military service;
- Periods receiving disability pension or caring for a person with a disability;
- Sick leave and vacations;
- Self-employed activity (FOP) if contributions are paid;
- Work abroad in countries with social security agreements;
- Caring for a child under 3 years old (automatically from 2005).
How to confirm your work experience:
- After 2004 — automatically in state registers;
- Before 2004 — via employment record book, certificates, or a decision by the Pension Fund/court if the enterprise is closed or records are incorrect.
Buying missing work experience:
Ukrainians can purchase missing months or years of insurance period at any age. The cost depends on the minimum wage. If only a few months are missing, it is usually beneficial; if the deficit is larger, it may be more economical to wait until age 63 or 65.
Where to check your work experience:
- In your personal account on the Pension Fund portal;
- In the PFU mobile app;
- By submitting a request to the Fund.
Periods before 2004 are recorded based on the employment record book, after 2004 — based on unified social contribution (USC) payments.
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