In Ukraine, a situation has emerged where the amount of pension payments varies significantly for different categories of citizens. According to the latest data from the Pension Fund, some Ukrainians, specifically those who worked in civil service, can count on a pension amounting to 60% of their salary. Meanwhile, for the majority of the country's citizens, this figure is around 30% of their income.

This information was published by RBC-Ukraine citing official explanations from the agency. Experts and lawyers point out that such a difference in payments is due to the specifics of legislation regulating social security for civil servants.

Legal Basis for Increased Payments

The right to a special pension calculation procedure is enshrined in the Law "On Civil Service" dated December 10, 2015 (No. 889). The detailed mechanism of accrual is outlined in the Law "On Mandatory State Pension Insurance".

According to current regulations, a pension for civil servants is appointed from the date of the citizen's application, but not earlier than the emergence of their right to such a payment. The key factor here is the amount of earnings: the pension is calculated as 60% of the salary sum, which includes all types of labor remuneration from which contributions to mandatory state social insurance were paid.

How the Payment is Calculated if the Person is No Longer in Service

The Pension Fund clarified an important nuance for those who have retired but did not hold a civil servant position at the time of application. In such cases, the payment is calculated not based on the pensioner's actual income, but based on the salary of a current employee holding an analogous position and having the corresponding rank at the former official's last place of service.

All types of labor remuneration for which contributions were paid to the Pension Fund are added to this base amount. The calculation takes into account both fixed and variable payments, including allowances for the rank of the civil servant.

Reduction in Payments Compared to the Past

It is important to note that legislation has changed over time, and the conditions for pension accrual for civil servants have become stricter. The Fund reminded that previously, before the changes, the pension was appointed at 90% of the salary. This means that citizens retiring today receive 30% less by law than their colleagues who applied for payments earlier.

To be eligible for a pension under this special procedure, a citizen had to meet certain conditions as of May 1, 2016. Additionally, a mandatory requirement is the presence of insurance service record necessary for a minimum old-age pension, as well as the necessary civil service record.

Context of Pension Issues in Ukraine

The topic of pension provision remains one of the most discussed in society. Previously, Ukraine actively discussed the possibility of delaying retirement and how this would affect the amount of future payments. Experts considered scenarios where a later retirement might be economically beneficial for the citizen.

Alongside pension issues, RBC-Ukraine reported on other social risks. Specifically, it was discussed who might lose the right to a subsidy in 2026, and which categories of Ukrainians risk being left without this state aid. It was also previously mentioned that it is possible to receive several payments from the state at once, although this is available only to certain categories of citizens.