Against the backdrop of the gradual increase in the retirement age, the issue of accumulating sufficient insurance work experience has become critically important for millions of Ukrainians. If a few years are missing to reach the required threshold, the state has provided a legal mechanism to solve this problem — voluntary insurance. This was stated by Tatyana Korol, Deputy Chairman of the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU), in response to a request from RBC-Ukraine.

Figures and requirements: what to know in 2027

The pension reform in Ukraine is moving according to a clear schedule. Already in 2027, to retire at the standard age of 60, citizens will need to have at least 34 years of insurance work experience. This requirement puts many in a difficult position: either wait for the increase in the retirement age or look for ways to make up for the deficit of years.

According to current legislation, there are two main ways to solve the problem of missing work experience:

  • Deferral of retirement. If you wait until the age of 63, the requirement for work experience is reduced to 24 years. When retiring at 65, it is sufficient to have only 15 years of work experience, regardless of the year this age is reached.
  • Voluntary insurance. Citizens can independently "buy" the missing years through the mechanism of voluntary pension insurance.

The cost of "buying" work experience in 2026

The mechanism of voluntary insurance allows citizens to independently form their pension capital and work experience. In 2026, the minimum contribution amount for which one full month of work experience is credited is 1,902.34 hryvnias. This amount is equivalent to 22% of the minimum wage.

However, there is a nuance for those who want to fill gaps in the past. If it is necessary to buy a month of work experience for previous years, the cost of such a service in 2026 will be 3,804.68 hryvnias. Thus, the mechanism allows for a flexible approach to solving pension issues, but requires financial discipline.

Nuances of crediting work experience: work abroad and service in the ATO

In addition to voluntary contributions, there are specific conditions for crediting work experience that are also important to know. In particular, pension work experience for work abroad is not credited automatically. Everything depends on the existence of bilateral agreements between Ukraine and a specific country. A mandatory condition for crediting such periods is the presence of official employment.

A separate procedure applies to war veterans. According to PFU information, one year of service in the combat zone is equivalent to three years of regular insurance work experience. This is a significant benefit that allows participants in hostilities to reach the necessary threshold for retirement sooner.