Some Ukrainian pensioners receive a monthly additional payment on top of their basic pension, which in 2026 may reach 1,038 hryvnias. Importantly, the right to this supplement does not depend on age or length of service: the basis is an entirely different criterion — special merits for Ukraine, as established by law. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the Law of Ukraine "On Special Merits for Ukraine."
What is a pension for special merits
This is a payment for special merits for Ukraine, which is granted not instead of the basic pension but on top of it. The supplement is added to the pension the person is already entitled to by law: this may be an old-age pension, a disability pension, a survivor's pension, or a pension for years of service. Thus, if a person meets the established criteria, the corresponding amount is simply added to their basic payment rather than replacing it.
How much is the supplement in 2026
The amounts of the supplements are determined by Order No. 2054 of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine dated 27 December 2017. They are calculated as a percentage of the subsistence minimum for persons who have lost their ability to work. In 2026 this minimum is 2,595 hryvnias, and the upper limit of the supplement is 40% of it, i.e. 1,038 hryvnias per month. Smaller amounts are provided for other categories: the specific size depends on the category and the grounds on which the person was granted a pension for special merits.
To whom the payment is added and how to apply for it
The Pension Fund notes that the right to such a pension is established on the basis of documents confirming the merits. Applications can be submitted either electronically or in paper form. If a person has acquired the right to the payment and applies within 12 months, the supplement will be established from the date the right was acquired. Due to the increase of the subsistence minimum to 2,595 hryvnias, the fund has been paying pensions for special merits from 1 January 2026.
Context: indexation and related payments
The supplement for special merits is only one component of the pension system, which in 2026 continues to be indexed in line with the subsistence minimum. Against this backdrop, the Pension Fund has also explained why many years of paying ESU (unified social contribution) does not guarantee entrepreneurs a high pension: most sole proprietors (FOPs) have been paying the contribution on the minimum base for years, from which the individual earnings coefficient and the final payment amount depend. In parallel, families with children affected by the war can receive financial assistance from UNICEF — in 2026 four programmes are in effect, and the largest amount, 19,400 hryvnias per household, is provided for preparation for winter.
