The Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) has reminded pensioners that before accusing the agency of underpaying benefits, they should independently check exactly what insurance record and earnings data were used to calculate their pension. According to RBC-Ukraine, all necessary information is available in the personal account on the PFU electronic services web portal — without visiting a service center and without waiting in lines. This is especially relevant for those whose employment history includes periods for which electronic registries might lack information.
How to access your personal account and what is visible there
First, you need to open the PFU web portal and click the "Login" button. Authorization is possible using a qualified electronic signature, BankID, or the "Diia.Pidpys" service, if available to the user. After logging into the "My Pension" section, the type of pension, its amount, payment components, and history of changes are displayed. In the same place, you can find the order on the appointment or recalculation of the pension — it shows exactly what decisions the Pension Fund made and on what grounds.
Four key points for self-checking
The pension file contains information on the work record and salary used to calculate benefits. PFU experts recommend sequentially checking four blocks. First — insurance record: compare the work periods in the employment record book with what is recorded in the pension file, paying attention to missed years, inaccurate hire and dismissal dates, and periods that might not have made it into the electronic registry. Second — earnings: review which salary information formed the basis of the calculation, and in case of discrepancies with documents, find out the reason. Third — type of pension and payment components: make up your mind that the type of pension is indicated correctly, and analyze what the total amount consists of, taking into account bonuses, allowances, and increases provided by law. Fourth — last recalculation: if the amount has changed after indexation or another recalculation, open the corresponding order to understand exactly what recalculation was performed and how the components changed.
Why a difference does not always mean a fund error
The PFU emphasizes: not every difference between the expected and actual amount is an agency error. The reason may be missing insurance record data, inaccuracies in documents, discrepancies between expected and accounted earnings, or specific features of applying pension provision rules. Indexation, in turn, does not always increase payments to all pensioners equally — the result depends on the type of pension, the date of its assignment, recalculation rules, and other conditions established by law. That is why you should start not with your own formula calculation, but by checking the data on the basis of which the fund determined the payment.
What to do if discrepancies are confirmed
If a certain work period is not accounted for in the pension file, there is incorrect salary information, or questions about recalculation arise, the pensioner can contact the PFU. An application is submitted through the fund's web portal or at a service center. In the appeal, it is necessary to indicate which information raises doubts, explain what the possible inconsistency is, attach copies of supporting documents, and ask to check the data and explain the pension calculation procedure. Depending on the situation, an employment record book, salary documents, archival certificates, or other confirmations of the work record may be required.
Recalculation: when it is possible and when it is not
Pension recalculation is possible if there are legal grounds. In particular, if the pensioner provides previously unaccounted documents on work record or earnings, the PFU is obliged to consider them according to current rules. However, the application itself does not guarantee an increase in payments — everything depends on whether the clarified information affects the right to payment or its amount. If the fund refuses to recalculate, the pensioner has the right to ask for a justification of the decision and, if there are grounds, appeal it in the established manner. An error in documents or a gap in work record entries can not only significantly reduce the amount of the pension but also delay the start of its accrual, so timely verification of data in the personal account is the simplest and most accessible tool for protecting one's rights.
