The Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) has published clarifications regarding the conditions for the early assignment of an old-age pension for certain categories of women. According to information provided to RBC-Ukraine citing the authority, some Ukrainian women, as well as mothers of children with disabilities, have the right to apply for an early pension at the age of 50. This rule applies within the framework of the current pension legislation and covers strictly defined groups of insured persons.

Two categories of women entitled to an early pension

According to the PFU, two categories of women can apply for an early old-age pension at the age of 50. The first is women who meet the criteria established by pension legislation for early retirement (including with regard to length of service and working conditions). The second category is mothers of children with disabilities who raised a child with health limitations. It is precisely for these groups that a reduced retirement age of 50 has been set instead of the standard age, which in 2026 continues to be raised gradually.

Insurance record and documentary confirmation

A key additional condition for the assignment of an early pension is having an insurance record of at least 15 years. Without meeting this requirement, the right to early retirement does not arise, even if the woman belongs to one of the target categories. To apply for the pension, it is necessary to documentarily confirm one's right: provide the corresponding certificates, children's birth certificates, documents on the child's disability or other confirmations that the PFU uses for verification. If all conditions are met and the documents are in order, the Pension Fund assigns an early old-age pension in the established amount.

Lump-sum benefit for Independence Day: deadline of 1 October 2026

Separately, the PFU reminded citizens of the possibility of receiving a lump-sum benefit for Ukraine's Independence Day. An application for this payment can be submitted by 1 October 2026 by citizens who are not pensioners, do not receive subsidies or benefits, and are not serving in the military. The amount of the payment is differentiated by recipient categories and ranges from 450 to 3,100 hryvnias. This is a one-time social support measure, not linked to pension provision, but relevant for a wide range of citizens ahead of the state holiday.

Minimum pension: what changed in the government program for 2026–2027

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted the final version of the government's activity program for 2026–2027, in which the specific figure of a minimum pension of 6,000 hryvnias was removed. The reason is that this amount was tied to the subsistence minimum for the working-age population, and fixing it in the program document created methodological difficulties. The Ministry of Social Policy assured that the actual size of the minimum pension will not fall below the indicated level, since the mechanism of indexation and linkage to the subsistence minimum is preserved in the current legislation.

Context: who else can retire before 60

Previously, UNIAN reported that in 2026 a number of categories of Ukrainians retain the right to early retirement before reaching the age of 60. This applies, in particular, to workers in hazardous working conditions, teachers, medical workers and certain other professions for which pension legislation provides for a reduced age. Lawyers commenting on these rules for Focus emphasize that a five-year insurance record for early retirement is not enough — the minimum threshold is 15 years, and it is precisely this condition that is decisive when reviewing an application at the PFU.