The Main Directorate of the Pension Fund of Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast has warned that some recipients of pensions, social benefits, insurance allowances, subsidies, and preferential entitlements may be required to return overpaid funds to the fund. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing official clarifications from the PFU. According to the publication, a key condition for the correct calculation of benefits is the timely notification of the fund of any changes in a citizen's personal data.
Ten Days — a Critical Deadline
According to the clarification received by RBC-Ukraine from the Main Directorate of the PFU in Donetsk Oblast, a person has only 10 days from the moment a change in personal data occurs to notify the pension fund. If this deadline is missed, the fund risks continuing to calculate benefits under the previous parameters, which will result in an overpayment. In such a case, the excess funds paid must be returned to the Pension Fund. Experts emphasize that the responsibility for timely notification lies with the benefit recipient themselves, not with the fund's employees.
Which Changes Require Notification
The text of the PFU's clarification states that the fund must be informed "of any changes in personal data." The specific list of items requiring mandatory notification is not disclosed in the published RBC-Ukraine material as an exhaustive list — the editorial team notes that this refers to any changes affecting the amount of or the right to receive benefits. This may include a change of place of residence, a change in marital status, employment status, or other circumstances on which the calculation of a pension or social assistance depends. The exact list is recommended to be confirmed directly with the territorial body of the PFU or through the "Diia" portal.
Risk for Pensioners Living Abroad
A separate risk group consists of Ukrainian pensioners who are permanently or temporarily residing abroad. As lawyer Olga Khomich previously explained in a comment to RBC-Ukraine, benefits are suspended if a person does not complete identity verification through the "Diia" app, a video call with a fund employee, or through a consular institution. Thus, even if the 10-day deadline for notifying a change of address is met, a pensioner abroad risks facing a block on benefits if they fail to confirm their presence and legal capacity in the established manner.
Payment for Six Months in Advance: an Exceptional Case
At the same time, RBC-Ukraine previously reported that some Ukrainians are entitled to receive their pension for six months in advance. According to the lawyer, this mechanism is available exclusively when a citizen officially deregisters in Ukraine and arranges a move abroad for permanent residence. In this situation, the fund makes a lump-sum payment for six months to provide the pensioner with funds for the adaptation period in the new country. This mechanism does not cancel or replace the obligation to timely notify the PFU of changes in status.
Contradictory Data
The published RBC-Ukraine material contains an inconsistency: in the text, after the phrase "This applies to:", there is no specific list of changes requiring mandatory notification. At the same time, the headline and lead of the article state that this concerns "any changes in personal data." On the one hand, the wording "any changes" can be interpreted as an absolute obligation to report every, even minor, change. On the other hand, the logic of pension calculation implies that notification is required only when a change affects the amount of or the very fact of the payment. The official exhaustive list from the PFU is not provided in this material, which creates uncertainty for recipients. Until a detailed clarification from the fund is issued, it is recommended to contact the territorial bodies of the PFU to clarify which specific changes in a given situation require mandatory notification.
