Feb. 4, 2025, 7:41 a.m.

Understanding Pensionable Service: Key Insights for Ukrainians

(Image: dzerkalo.media)

Pensionable service is taken into account when calculating pensions. The periods during which a person was subject to compulsory state pension insurance are included in the insurance period for calculating a pension, and for the period from the date of entry into force of the Law of Ukraine "On Compulsory State Pension Insurance" (from January 1, 2004) - periods when insurance premiums were paid monthly. Experts of the Free Legal Aid Center explained the nuances of calculating the insurance period.

How is the length of service after 2004 counted?

The insurance period after January 1, 2004 is calculated according to the data contained in the personalized accounting system. For the period from January 1, 2016, the insurance period includes the months for which the unified social contribution (USC) was paid.

Where to find out information about the insurance period

This information is obtained from certificates OK-5 and OK-7. They can be ordered from the pension fund. You can also get the same data in your personal account on the Pension Fund portal or through the Diia app. All employees should monitor whether their employers pay social security contributions on their behalf.

It is also worth noting that today the insurance period includes the following periods

Taking into account the peculiarities of martial law, it should be noted that the time an employee is on unpaid leave (if the employee was on such leave for a full month) is not included in the insurance period.

How much insurance period is required for a pension?

The length of the pensionable service period will increase every year. The old-age pension is determined depending on the length of the insurance period you have acquired when you reach the statutory age. The general conditions for granting an old-age pension are set out in Article 26 of the Law of Ukraine No. 1058-IV dated 09.07.2003 "On Compulsory State Pension Insurance".

In 2022, a person could receive a pension at the age of 60 if he or she had 29 years of service, and in 2023 - if he or she had 30 years of service.The length of the insurance period that gives the right to retire at the age of 60 will increase every year. This will continue until 2028.

What to do if your pensionable service is not enough

You can work and, accordingly, earn pensionable service, but there is another way.

Insufficient insurance period can also be purchased. This can be done at a cost of 44% of the minimum wage for each month. Contributions are paid to the Pension Fund.

How to confirm the insurance period

The main document confirming work experience is the employment record book. This is provided for in the Procedure for Confirming the Existing Length of Service for Granting Pensions in the Absence of an Employment Record Book or Relevant Records in it.

In the absence of an employment record book or relevant entries in it, the length of service is established on the basis of other documents issued at the place of work, service, or study, as well as by archival institutions.

In the absence of a work record book, as well as in cases where the work record book does not contain the required entries or contains incorrect or inaccurate entries about periods of work, the length of service will need to be confirmed. To confirm the length of service, the data available in the register of insured persons of the State Register of Compulsory State Social Insurance, certificates, extracts from orders, personal accounts and payroll statements, certificates, certificates of merit, written employment contracts and agreements with notes on their execution, and other documents containing information on periods of work are accepted.

The period of work of persons engaged in entrepreneurial activities based on private property and on their labor exclusively for the period before May 1, 1993, as well as the period of work of persons engaged in personal farming, is included in the length of service if they have a certificate from the Pension Fund of Ukraine on payment of insurance contributions. For example, a person is an entrepreneur using the simplified taxation system, including the fixed tax. The periods from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2003 are included in the employment record of individual entrepreneurs on the basis of a certificate of registration as a business entity.

The periods from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2017 are included in the insurance period subject to voluntary payment of insurance premiums (single contribution) regardless of the amount of money paid.

To confirm military service, civil defense service, service in state security agencies, intelligence agencies, and the State Special Communications Service, the following are accepted

Military service in the active army during the period of hostilities is included in the employment record on the basis of certificates issued by the territorial recruitment and social support centers, the so-called military enlistment offices. To confirm service in the internal affairs bodies or the National Police, certificates issued in accordance with the procedure determined by the Ministry of Internal Affairs are accepted.

How to get advice on pension benefits

This can be done by applying to the specialists of the Pension Fund service centers, through a personal account on the Pension Fund portal or by calling the Pension Fund contact center - 0-800-503-753.

There are situations when a person cannot confirm his or her work experience or there are errors in the documents. In such cases, people receive a written refusal to grant a pension.

Appealing against the refusal of the Pension Fund of Ukraine to grant a pension, establishing legal facts, the proper length of insurance period, problems due to errors in documents - people can turn to lawyers of the free legal aid system with such problems.

Ігор Льов

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