In certain regions of Ukraine, pensioners are entitled to a significant increase in their monthly payments. According to legislation, residents of mountain settlements can count on a supplement amounting to 20% of the subsistence minimum. However, this benefit is not assigned automatically and requires active action on the part of the recipient.
Geography and Amount of Payments
The right to an increased pension is enshrined in the Law of Ukraine "On the Status of Mountain Settlements". The benefit applies to four oblasts: Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, and Chernivtsi. The amount of the surcharge is calculated as 20% of the subsistence minimum for persons who have lost their ability to work.
For example, if the subsistence minimum is 2,361 hryvnias, the monthly supplement will be approximately 472 hryvnias. It is important to note that this amount can be combined with other types of surcharges. If a pensioner has reached the age of 80 and receives an age-related supplement of 570 hryvnias, then in combination with the "mountain" addition, the total pension increase will exceed one thousand hryvnias.
Who is Eligible for the Benefit
The right to the supplement belongs to citizens who actually reside or work in mountainous areas. The law establishes strict criteria: a person must live or work under such conditions for at least six consecutive months. At the same time, prolonged stays abroad or payment of the single social contribution in another settlement are not allowed.
Since February 2026, legislation has been changed in favor of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 225 expanded the circle of recipients, allowing IDPs who have settled in mountainous areas to claim this benefit. Also, on July 21, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law guaranteeing that discriminatory requirements cannot apply to resettlers when assigning pensions.
How to Apply for the Supplement
Unlike age-related surcharges, the "mountain" benefit is not assigned automatically by the Pension Fund. To receive the money, you must personally visit a branch of the fund with an application and provide a mountain settlement certificate.
Payment may be refused in two cases: if the person already receives a pension in a non-mountain settlement, or if their registration in the village is formal, without actual residence. Thus, the key factor remains the actual presence in the mountainous area.
Restrictions from the IMF
Despite the expansion of citizens' rights, the financial situation remains difficult. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has limited the possibility of imposing new unplanned expenses on the Pension Fund until 2030. This condition creates risks for some initiatives, including payments within the framework of the so-called "Zelenskyy's Thousand," although planned recalculations and indexations do not fall under this restriction.
