The year 2026 brings a lot of new things for all Ukrainians. The minimum wage and subsistence minimums are being raised, and other social standards are changing. Intent has prepared another article about these and other changes.
New social standards
In 2026, new social standards will be introduced in Ukraine in accordance with the law.
Increase in salaries and subsistence minimums
The Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2026" is the main document establishing the minimum wage. In accordance with Article 8 of the State Budget Law for 2026, the following minimum wage amounts are set to be effective from January 1, 2026:
- In the monthly amount: UAH 8,000 UAH 8,647.
- In the hourly amount: UAH 52.
Compared to 2025, the monthly wage has been increased by UAH 647 and by UAH 4 at the hourly level (in 2025, this figure was UAH 48).
The subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons is set at UAH 3,328, the general subsistence minimum at UAH 3,209, and the subsistence minimum for persons who have lost their ability to work at UAH 2,595.
The state budget for 2026 also provides for an increase in the minimum wage for teachers. According to Danylo Hetmantsev, Chairman of the Tax Committee of the Verkhovna Rada, the increase is planned to be 2.5 times higher. Thus, the minimum salary for teachers will be UAH 21,617.
It should be noted that throughout 2026, a similar level of minimum wage (UAH 21,617.50) will be required to continue booking employees of enterprises. If the booked person receives a gross salary less than this amount, he or she may lose the reservation.
Starting January 1, 2026, the salaries of civil servants will actually be divided into two parts
One is a fixed salary, an official salary of at least 2.5 PM, and the other is bonuses. So, if earlier bonuses could in some cases amount to 200, 300, 400%, now all bonuses are standardized. And even if we're talking about a monthly, quarterly or annual bonus, all of this in total cannot exceed 30% of the fixed salary for the year.
Increase in maternity benefits
On November 5, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the second reading the draft law No. 13532 "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Supporting Families with Children and Creating Conditions Conducive to Combining Parenthood with Professional Activity", which provides for an increase in the one-time payment to women after the birth of a child to UAH 50,000.
In particular, it is planned that starting from January 1, 2026, the one-time payment upon the birth of a child will increase to UAH 50,000 and will be paid in a single amount. Previously, this amount was UAH 41280 (UAH 10320 was paid immediately and another UAH 860 per month for 36 months). In addition, if the child is under 1 year old as of January 1, 2026, parents will receive UAH 7000 per month in addition to UAH 860 until the child reaches the age of 1.
According to the document, the same amount, UAH 7000, will be paid to a pregnant woman before the birth of a child if she has no insurance record (no official employment).
The changes will also apply to the "Baby Package", which can now be ordered from the 36th week of pregnancy, and not just after the birth of the child, as it was before.
Pension increases
Pension indexation is also scheduled for March 1, 2026 in Ukraine. This is an annual procedure that is carried out to partially compensate for rising prices for goods and services. The recalculation is carried out automatically - without additional requests from pensioners, based on the materials of their pension files.
According to the Pension Fund, the indexation will affect most pensioners, but not all. Increased payments will be made to those citizens whose pensions were granted earlier and do not belong to special categories. In total, the state budget for 2026 provides UAH 251.3 billion for pension payments for 10.3 million Ukrainian pensioners, part of which will be used for indexation.
The amount of the increase is calculated annually using a special formula. The Cabinet of Ministers determines the indexation coefficient based on two key indicators
- the inflation rate for the previous year
- growth in the average salary from which insurance premiums are paid.
This year, the changes will not affect two categories of citizens:
- those who retired within the last three years - their payments already take into account current earnings;
- recipients of "special pensions" - the military, judges, prosecutors, Chernobyl victims and other categories whose payments are regulated by separate laws.
Other social benefits
Other social benefits will also be increased.
Survivor's pensions
An increase in the subsistence minimum automatically increases survivor pensions. Payments will increase from UAH 234 to UAH 351:
- one disabled dependent person - UAH 2,595
- two dependents - UAH 3,114;
- three or more dependents - UAH 3,892.50.
For families of military personnel, the minimum pension cannot be lower than two subsistence minimums - it will increase to UAH 5,190.
Payments to veterans and combatants
In 2026, pensions for veterans and combatants will range from UAH 5,449.50 to almost UAH 17,000. Veterans with disabilities of groups II and III will receive similar amounts upon reaching 85 years of age.
Supplements to veterans' insurance pensions
Supplements for combatants will increase by UAH 58, and for people with group I disabilities - up to UAH 1,297.50.
Additional payments to victims of Nazi persecution and persons with disabilities
The care allowance for people with group I disabilities will be UAH 2,595. Former prisoners of concentration camps will receive an additional UAH 389.25, and medal recipients will receive UAH 519.
New formula for calculating financial support for foster parents
The CMU adopted Resolution No. 1241 dated 01.10.2025 "On Amendments to the Procedure for Appointment and Payment of State Social Assistance for Orphans and Children Deprived of Parental Care, Persons from Among Them, Including Persons with Disabilities, Financial Support to Foster Parents and Foster Parents for Providing Social Services in Family-type Children's Homes and Foster Families on the Principle of "Money Follows the Child". The Resolution changes the procedure for calculating financial support for foster parents and adoptive parents. Starting from January 1, 2026, payments will be calculated according to a new formula that takes into account the number of children, their disability and its degree. At the same time, the procedure for awarding and paying benefits remains unchanged.
Increase in pensionable service - how much is required for retirement in 2026
Starting from January 1, 2026, the number of years of service required for retirement by age will increase in Ukraine. As explained by the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU), this is provided for by the Law of Ukraine "On Compulsory State Pension Insurance".
Insurance period is the period during which a person was insured and paid monthly insurance premiums of at least the minimum. Starting from January 1, 2004, only those periods for which a single social contribution was actually paid will be included in the pensionable service record.
The new stage of the pension reform provides for the following conditions:
- To retire at the age of 60, one must have at least 33 years of official insurance record.
- If you have less, you will be eligible for a pension at age 63 only if you have at least 23 years of service.
- In the absence of such a record, a pension can be granted at the age of 65, provided that the person has at least 15 years of insurance record.
- If a person does not have such a record, he or she can only rely on social assistance from the state through the Pension Fund (PFU).
Previously, the requirements for insurance record were lower. In particular, in 2025, to retire on old age, you had to have 1 year less - 32, 22 and 15 years, respectively.
According to Ukrainian law, the increase in the insurance period is gradual - by one year each year - and will continue until 35 years of service are reached for retirement at the age of 60.
It should also be noted that if a citizen reaches 60, 63 or 65 years of age in 2025 but applies for a pension in 2026, the requirements for service remain lower - 32, 22 and 15 years, respectively.
Ukrainians can check their pensionable service record and salary through the Pension Fund's electronic services web portal or in the Fund's mobile application. The length of service acquired before 2004 is confirmed by the employment record book.
In case of insufficient insurance period for retirement, citizens can either complete the required period or "buy" the period of service - for periods after 2004, by concluding an agreement of voluntary participation in the system of compulsory state social insurance.
Healthcare in 2026: free screening and updated vaccination schedule
Starting from January 1, 2026, Ukraine will launch a free medical screening program for people over 40. Upon reaching this age, citizens will receive a notification in the Diia app with an offer to undergo a checkup.
Upon confirmation of participation, a special Diia.Card will be automatically credited with UAH 2000, which can be used exclusively to pay for screening in medical institutions. The screening is supposed to take place during one visit lasting 60-90 minutes.
Also, starting January 1, 2026, an updated vaccination schedule will come into effect in Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Health, according to the updated calendar, vaccinations against tuberculosis, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib infection and human papillomavirus (HPV) will become mandatory.
The key innovation will be free one-time HPV vaccination for girls aged 12-13. To implement the program, the government has already purchased a modern 9-valent vaccine that provides protection against the most oncogenic types of the virus.
Володимир Шкаєв
