Pensions in Ukraine will increase from January 2026: who and by how much will the payments be raised.

According to ТСН: The number of retirees in Ukraine is decreasing. According to data from the Pension Fund of Ukraine, as of early October, there were 10.2 million people receiving pensions in the country. This is 100 thousand less than last year.

The main reason for the decrease in the number of retirees is the gradual increase in requirements for insurance experience. Currently, to retire at the age of 60, one must have at least 32 years of legal work. In the future, these requirements will increase: 33 years in 2026, 34 years in 2027, and 35 years in 2028. After that, the length of service requirement will remain unchanged.

Changes in pensions from 2026

Approximately 40% of retirees will receive a pension increase starting January 1, 2026 due to an increase in the minimum living wage for non-working individuals to 2595 UAH (+234 UAH). Individuals with a minimum pension of 2361 UAH will receive an additional payment of 234 UAH. Those whose pension does not exceed 10 minimum pensions can receive an increase up to 25950 UAH, which in the maximum case will amount to 2340 UAH. Increases are also expected for those with more than the norm of service: more than 35 years for men and 30 years for women, for each year of service they will receive an additional payment of 2.34 UAH.

The most significant increase is planned for March 1, affecting about 90% of retirees, or more than 9 million citizens. The expected indexing will be from 11% to 15%, but not more than 1500 UAH, as in previous years.

The quality of pensions depends on earnings

The calculation of an age pension in Ukraine looks as follows: P = S x Kz x Ks. Here P is the pension, S is the average salary over the last three years, Kz is the personal salary coefficient, Ks is the experience coefficient. For example, with a salary at the level of the minimum, currently 8000 UAH, and a service of 44 years, the calculated pension will amount to 3511 UAH. The additional payment for excess service will increase the sum by 212 UAH for men and 330 UAH for women.

Pensions for persons with disabilities

From January 1, 2026, pensions for persons with disabilities will also be increased due to the growth of the minimum living wage and indexing. The minimum pension for disability will be 2595 UAH (+234 UAH). The calculation formula will remain unchanged: for group I – 100% of the pension by age, for group II – 90%, for group III – 50%.

The points system for pensions

The government is considering the introduction of a new pension system, where instead of the current formula, a points system will be used. In this system, the number of points earned by the worker will determine the pension amount. This will allow for automatic updates of pensions to the current wage level.

The cost of purchasing experience, if necessary, amounts to 1760 UAH in 2025, with subsequent increases. It is currently beneficial to purchase experience if there are a few months to two years until retirement.

The largest pension in Ukraine at the moment is 390 thousand UAH per month, which is granted to a retired judge of the Supreme Court. Although in fact it is not a 'pension', but a 'monthly lifelong monetary allowance'. For most citizens, the pension is limited to a cap of 23610 UAH.

Thus, the changes in the pension system expected in the coming years could significantly affect the financial situation of retirees in Ukraine. The growing demands for insurance experience and periodic pension increases within the framework of new reforms create a new context for individuals preparing for retirement or already enjoying their well-deserved rest. It is important to keep track of these changes and carefully plan your financial future.