In August 2026, Ukraine implemented significant changes to its pension legislation aimed at solving one of the most pressing social problems of recent years — confirming insurance work experience for millions of citizens. The new law radically changes the approach to pension assignment, shifting the burden of gathering evidence from the pensioner to the state. Now, the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) is obliged to independently verify work experience data in state registries and initiate a search for documents if they are missing.
The state searches for work experience instead of citizens
The essence of the innovation lies in a change of paradigm: whereas previously citizens had to independently "fight" for certificates from their places of employment, often facing bureaucratic barriers, now the initiative comes from the fund. According to Mykhailo Tsymbaliuk, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans' Rights, the mechanism works in stages. First, the PFU checks information in electronic state registries. If the data there is insufficient, the fund is obliged to explain to the citizen exactly which documents are needed and assist in gathering them. This is particularly relevant for people whose archives were destroyed during hostilities.
Restoring work experience from occupied territories
Legislators paid special attention to people returning from temporarily occupied territories, as well as employees of enterprises that were destroyed or remained under the control of the enemy. "A large number of former employees cannot confirm their work experience due to the loss of documents. With this law, we have obliged the Pension Fund to help people search for the necessary documents," emphasized Tsymbaliuk. Now, even if an enterprise no longer physically exists, the state takes responsibility for restoring the social security rights of its citizens.
Employer reporting as proof of work experience
An important aspect of the reform was the resolution of the problem of "grey" wages and the absence of contributions. The deputy explained: if an employer did not pay the single social contribution, but submitted reporting to the Pension Fund regarding the person's employment and wage payment, this period must be counted towards insurance work experience. This innovation protects workers from the dishonest actions of employers who might not have paid contributions but officially listed the employee on the payroll. This approach will allow millions of Ukrainians to retain their right to a pension, without losing years of work due to business errors or evasion.
New support mechanisms: from philanthropy to special supplements
In addition to simplifying the confirmation of work experience, alternative mechanisms for supporting the elderly are actively developing in Ukraine in 2026. The so-called "philanthropic pension" mechanism is now operational — the possibility for citizens and businesses to transfer money directly to a specific pensioner through the Pension Fund portal. This creates a transparent channel for charity, bypassing intermediaries. Furthermore, some Ukrainians may receive a special pension supplement for special merits to Ukraine. In 2026, the amount of this payment ranges from 596.85 to 908.25 hryvnias monthly, depending on the category of the recipient, which is an important form of recognition for the merits of veterans and public figures.
