Pensions in January 2026: Who Risks Being Left Without Payments Due to Identification.

According to ТСН: A part of Ukrainian pensioners may be left without financial support as early as January 2026. This is due to new requirements from the Pension Fund of Ukraine, which will come into effect at the beginning of the new year. The restrictions will apply to those who did not undergo mandatory identification in 2025.

Who May Lose Payments at the Beginning of the Year

The main reason for pension delays in January is the expiration of the identity verification period, which lasts until December 31, 2025. If a pensioner fails to complete this procedure in time, their payments may be suspended. This is especially relevant for two groups of citizens:

• Pensioners who have been abroad for more than six months.

• Citizens living in temporarily occupied territories.

To continue receiving payments, these individuals were required to confirm their status through the Pension Fund's web portal, via video calls, or through Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad.

How to Restore Pension Payments

A suspension of payments does not mean that the money will be lost. According to the legislation, payments can be restored immediately after identification is completed. The Pension Fund states that the accumulated amounts for the suspended months will be paid to the pensioner. However, the refund process will depend on who made the mistake: the recipient or the state institution.

Pensioners can check the status of their identification and the date of their last verification online. To do this, they need to use the 'My Identification' service on the official electronic services portal or the mobile application of the Pension Fund of Ukraine.

Other Reasons for Suspension of Pension Payments in 2026

In addition to the lack of identification, there are other legislative grounds that may lead to temporary or permanent suspension of payments:

• Providing false data. If it turns out that the documents for pension appointment were unreliable.

• Change of residence. Moving abroad for permanent residence or applying for temporary residence outside the country.

• Lack of activity. If a pensioner does not collect their payments for six consecutive months.

• Legal changes. Death of the person, recognition as missing, or obtaining missing status under special circumstances.

• Change of social status. Employment in a position that entitles one to a pension for length of service, change of disability group or completion of education by children who received a pension due to the loss of a breadwinner.

Timely data updates and annual verification are the keys to stable pension payments in 2026.