Internally Displaced Persons have updated pension acquisition rules - what has changed.

The armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has been ongoing for over 10 years. Some Ukrainian pensioners currently live in territories not controlled by the Ukrainian government, but they continue to receive pension payments after physical identification with the Pension Fund of Ukraine.The Ministry of Social Policy reported that the Cabinet of Ministers has resolved the issue of pension payments for people who found themselves in temporarily occupied territories and have difficulties accessing banking services due to the war.

What will happen to IDP pensions

The government allocated money to internally displaced persons (IDPs) who lived in occupied territories until February 24, 2022, but have not used bank accounts or undergone identification for over a year. Now their funds will be stored in the accounts of the Pension Fund of Ukraine.

"Pensioners whose accounts were credited with these funds retain full rights to them. If a person is alive or has legal heirs, they can receive the entire amount in one payment."

The Pension Fund of Ukraine will only store pensions for Ukrainians who meet certain criteria, such as having been IDPs before the invasion and not using a pension account for a year.

How IDPs can receive their payments

To receive a pension, one must submit an application to the Pension Fund of Ukraine, which will be paid out in a lump sum to a bank account. If the account has not been used for a long time or the person has not undergone identification, the funds need to be collected from the Pension Fund.

"If a person has already undergone identification or does so before the transfer of funds, the money will remain in the bank account and will not be transferred to the Pension Fund."

Heirs will receive the unpaid amount if the pensioner has died. There were previously reports of additional payments to pensioners.

There are also plans to increase the average pension in Ukraine, although currently, this sum proves difficult for the state budget.

The Government of Ukraine has made a decision regarding pension payments for pensioners living in temporarily occupied territories. This initiative aims to ease the living conditions of Ukrainian citizens who have lost the ability to receive pensions due to the difficult situation in the eastern part of the country.