Pensioners living in temporarily occupied territories or those who have moved from them to government-controlled Ukrainian land are obliged to officially notify the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) about the absence of payments from the Russian Federation. This requirement is a mandatory condition for the uninterrupted accrual and disbursement of Ukrainian pensions. Otherwise, citizens may face a suspension of social benefits.
Who Is Obliged to Transfer Information to the PFU
The new rules and clarifications apply to all pensioners who are or were previously under occupation, regardless of the duration of their stay in such conditions—even if this period was only a few days. The main condition for receiving a Ukrainian pension remains the documented fact that the citizen does not receive any pension or social benefits from the pension authorities of the Russian Federation.
Methods of Notifying the Pension Fund
State authorities have provided several convenient options for submitting applications for citizens from various categories. The fastest method is online submission through your personal account on the official PFU electronic services portal using a qualified electronic signature (QES) or the Diia service. In addition, pensioners can undergo a video call with a PFU headquarters employee to confirm their status.Additional Opportunities for Citizens Abroad
For those Ukrainian pensioners who have gone abroad, the possibility of sending a written message by mail is provided. An application in any form, along with a certificate confirming that the person is alive, is sent to the territorial bodies of the fund. The classic option of a personal visit to any convenient PFU service center in the controlled territory with a paper package of documents also remains available.
Frequency of Submission and Changes in Legislation
It is worth noting that it is not necessary to re-submit such a notification annually. A pensioner is obliged to contact the PFU again only if their status changes—for example, if they start receiving payments from the Russian Federation. Additionally, experts remind that starting in October 2026, unnecessary bureaucratic requirements for pension payments will be canceled for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
