Don't lose 3 months of payments: what pensioners need to know.

Overview of the pension application process in Ukraine

On August 5, 2024, journalist and pension expert Serhiy Korobkin published a video review on the topic "Pension application – how not to lose your pension for 3 months".

In his review, Korobkin detailed the pension application process and provided important advice for future pensioners.

According to the expert, to qualify for an age pension in 2024, one needs to have 31 years of service. This requirement applies to both women and men. Korobkin noted that in the following years, the service requirements will increase: in 2025, 32 years of service will be required, in 2026 - 33 years, and so on until 2028, when the required service will be 35 years.

Regarding the timing for submitting a pension application, Korobkin emphasized the importance of timely submission. The pension is granted from the day following the day of reaching the pension age, if the application is submitted no later than three months from the birthday. In case of later submission, the pension will be granted from the date of application, which may result in the loss of pension for several months.

The expert described four ways to submit a pension application:

1. Personally, at any branch of the Pension Fund of Ukraine.
2. Online through the Pension Fund's electronic services portal.
3. Through the "Diia" application.
4. By mail for those abroad (temporarily during martial law).

Korobkin also mentioned the possibility of automatic pension appointment without an application if one fills out a questionnaire and attaches the necessary documents in advance on the Pension Fund's electronic services portal.

Among the necessary documents for submitting a pension application, the expert named:

• Passport
• Identification code
• Service documents up to 2004 (employment record book, military card, education diploma, etc.)
• If necessary, documents for changing the surname for women

Korobkin noted that the salary for calculating the pension is fully accounted for from July 1, 2000, to the date of pension appointment. However, a pensioner can provide a salary certificate for 5 years before 2000 if it is beneficial for the calculation.

At the end, the expert described the possibility of receiving a higher pension if a person did not timely apply for it and continues to work. For each month of work after reaching pension age, the pension amount increases by 0.5%, and if a person has worked for more than 5 years - by 0.75% for each month.