Pension Award Rules Changed in Ukraine for Special Merits: Someone Lost the Right to Surcharge.

The system of pension surcharges for special merits to the country in Ukraine has undergone significant changes. According to the new legislation, some citizens can receive substantial surcharges to their pensions, while others have lost this opportunity.

Pension affairs expert, journalist Serhii Korobkin, told journalists of the publication 'Na Pensiy' about these changes. The Law 'On Pensions for Special Merits to Ukraine' provides for surcharges for Heroes of Ukraine, holders of the titles 'people's' and 'honorary', obtained during the period of Ukraine's independence, as well as persons who received state awards. This list also includes outstanding athletes, winners of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, cosmonauts, and women who gave birth to five or more children.

The amount of surcharges varies from 23% to 40% of the subsistence minimum, which now amounts to from 543 to 944 hryvnias.

According to the order of the Ministry of Social Policy No. 2054 dated December 27, 2017, a more detailed list of categories of citizens entitled to surcharges is contained in this document.

One of the significant changes is the exclusion of persons who received awards and titles in the Soviet period. This concerns all Soviet orders, medals, titles of Heroes of Socialist Labor, and other awards from that Time. People who already receive surcharges continue to receive them, but new applications on these grounds are no longer accepted.

Also, a new category of surcharge recipients has appeared - persons recognized as fighters for Ukraine's independence in the 20th century, including rehabilitated victims of repression. For this group, a fixed surcharge of 4200 hryvnias has been established, which exceeds payments to other categories.

National and local deputies have lost the right to surcharges. Their financial situation allows them to avoid additional state support.

Separately, it is worth mentioning surcharges for special merits to the Motherland, regulated by the law on the status of war veterans. These payments amount to 70% of the subsistence minimum, which currently equals 1652 hryvnias.

Modern war veterans who were awarded after 2014 - Heroes of Ukraine, holders of the orders 'Golden Star', Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 'For Courage', and Princess Olga of three degrees, can receive monthly payments ranging from one to three minimum wages, even if they have not yet received a pension. The maximum surcharge can reach 21000 hryvnias.

All these payments are processed through the Pension Fund of Ukraine based on the relevant documentation confirming the right to receive surcharges.

According to forecasts, pensions in Ukraine will increase in 2025.