Pensions Rise by 12.1%, Yet the Gap Between Payments Widens: Indexation Details.

Ukraine’s March 2026 Pension Increase

According to Novyny.live: In March 2026, Ukraine raised pensions by 12.1%. Despite this increase, the disparity between older and newer pensions continues to grow. Starting March 1, 2026, older pensions are calculated from a base of 9,992 hryvnias, while newer ones are based on 17,482 hryvnias. This has led to significant differences in the amounts retirees receive. For context, pension indexation is a routine adjustment meant to keep up with inflation, but the gap between different pension cohorts has become a persistent issue in Ukraine.

The average increase from indexation was 519 hryvnias. Specifically:

• 525,000 people will receive a raise of up to 100 hryvnias;
• 4.7 million people will get between 100 and 500 hryvnias;
• 3.2 million people will see an increase of 500 to 1,000 hryvnias.

However, 328,000 individuals will receive no increase at all, sparking public concern.

Urgent Need for Pension System Reform

Danylo Hetmantsev, a member of parliament, notes that the government’s indexation mechanism for standard pensions not only fails to provide adequate protection against inflation but also widens the gap between pensions awarded at different times.

Regarding minimum pensions, Hetmantsev stresses the need to find resources to modernize payments and raise the minimum pension to at least 6,000 hryvnias. Currently, the minimum pension for certain groups of Ukrainians, such as miners, is three times higher than the standard minimum, nearly reaching 7,800 hryvnias. This highlights the unevenness in the pension system, which urgently requires review and correction.

The March 2026 pension increase was only a partial solution to the problems plaguing Ukraine’s pension system. The need for reform and adaptation to current economic conditions is becoming increasingly clear, especially given the differences in pension amounts and their insufficient protection against inflation. The lack of any increase for a large number of retirees also raises concerns, potentially leading to social tension in society.