In Ukraine, the rules for paying pensions for citizens temporarily living abroad have changed
Ukrainian pensioners, who were forced to go abroad because of the war, face new challenges related to receiving pension payments. Many of them found themselves in difficult life circumstances, far from their native country, but the need for stable financial support remains urgent. For such people, it is important to understand the new requirements and rules that determine the possibility of further receiving pensions. Recent changes in Ukrainian legislation introduce new procedures that refugee pensioners must follow in order to continue receiving their legal benefits.
If the pensioner does not pass the physical identification within the prescribed period, the payment of the pension will be stopped. In Ukraine, the rules for paying pensions for citizens temporarily living abroad have changed: from now on, to continue receiving payments, it is necessary to undergo annual identification. In addition, the process of restoring pensions for immigrants from the occupied territories who do not receive pensions from the Russian Federation was simplified.
At the beginning of July 2023, Law No. 3674-IX entered into force in Ukraine, which significantly changed the procedure for paying and restoring pensions for citizens temporarily living abroad. These changes are aimed at achieving social justice and streamlining pension payments taking into account the current conditions in which many Ukrainians find themselves as a result of military operations and other factors. According to the law, pensions of Ukrainians living abroad will be transferred to current accounts opened in banks on the territory of Ukraine.
One of the key conditions for continuing to receive a pension is mandatory physical identification by December 31 of each year. This procedure confirms that the person receiving the pension is alive and continues to meet the criteria for receiving pension benefits.
How physical identification is carried out:
- in the bodies of the Pension Fund of Ukraine – if the person is on the territory of the country;
- through a personal electronic account on the web portal of electronic services of the Pension Fund, using a qualified electronic signature Diya.Signature or Diya ID;
- with the help of video conferencing, which is especially relevant for those who are outside Ukraine;
- according to a certificate of the fact that the person is alive, issued by the relevant foreign diplomatic mission of Ukraine.
If the pensioner does not have time to pass the physical identification within the period prescribed by the law, the payment of the pension may be suspended. This point is necessary to ensure the relevance of data and prevent possible fraudulent schemes.
Situations in which pension payments may be suspended:
- the pensioner’s statement on the termination of payments in connection with temporary residence abroad;
- the death of a pensioner or recognition of his missing person as absent or declaration of death in accordance with the procedure established by law;
- the pensioner receiving the status of a missing person under special circumstances;
- failure to undergo physical identification in cases provided for by law.
In addition, the Government portal reminded that citizens who do not have enough insurance experience for retirement can buy it up. The cost of one month is 1,760 hryvnias, which corresponds to the minimum insurance premium.
It was also noted that most pensioners receive payments of less than three thousand hryvnias. Instead, for pensions that exceed five thousand hryvnias, you need to have an average salary and experience of 35 years.
