---
title: "Plus 1,038 hryvnias to the pension: who is entitled to a special merit supplement in 2026"
description: "In 2026, some Ukrainians receive a supplement of up to 1,038 hryvnias on top of their basic pension. The right to the payment is granted not by age or length of service, but by special merits for Ukraine, confirmed by documents."
date: 2026-09-18T03:32:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/special-merits-pension-supplement-ukraine-2026
tags: [ukraine-pensions, special-merits-pension, social-policy, pension-fund-ukraine]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Plus 1,038 hryvnias to the pension: who is entitled to a special merit supplement in 2026

![Senior man in a plaid shirt calculating his pension and money with a calculator, related to Ukraine's 2026 special merit pension supplement](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/19/pensiya-za-osobyie-zaslugi-pered-ukrainoy-2026/pensiya-za-osobyie-zaslugi-pered-ukrainoy-2026-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- In 2026, the maximum supplement for special merits for Ukraine is 1,038 hryvnias per month (40% of the subsistence minimum for non-working persons at 2,595 hryvnias).
- The right to the payment is determined not by age or length of service but by merits confirmed by documents; the supplement is added to the basic pension rather than replacing it.
- The supplement amounts are set by Order No. 2054 of the Ministry of Social Policy dated 27.12.2017; if an application is submitted within 12 months, the payment is established from the date the right was acquired.

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.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Plus 40% to the pension: who is entitled to such an additional payment](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/plyus-40-pensiyi-komu-peredbachena-taka-doplata-1789650849.html) - Основной источник: надбавка до 40% прожиточного минимума (1038 грн при минимуме 2595 грн) за особые заслуги, порядок оформления и начисления с 01.01.2026.
- [What will the minimum pension be in August 2026: will the payment amount increase](https://www.unian.net/economics/finance/maksimalna-ta-minimalna-pensiya-v-ukrajini-u-serpni-2026-skilki-platitimut-13448202.html) - Контекст по размерам пенсий в 2026 году; не подтверждает напрямую факт надбавки за заслуги.
- [Pensions raised for Ukrainian military: how much will UBD recipients receive after the increase](https://www.unian.net/society/kakaya-pensiya-ubd-v-2026-godu-minimalnyy-razmer-i-nadbavki-13445367.html) - Контекст по размерам пенсий в 2026 году; не подтверждает напрямую факт надбавки за заслуги.
- [Pensions to rise by 40% without indexation: who will get an increase this year](https://fakty.ua/ru/477040-pensii-vyrastut-na-40-bez-indeksacii-kto-poluchit-povyshenie-v-etom-godu) - Смежный контекст по пенсионным выплатам и надбавкам в 2026 году; не является первичным источником по пенсии за особые заслуги.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What gives the right to a pension supplement in 2026?
**A:** The right to the supplement is granted by special merits for Ukraine, confirmed by documents, not by age or length of service. The basis is established in the Law of Ukraine "On Special Merits for Ukraine."

### Q: How much is the maximum supplement in 2026?
**A:** The maximum supplement is 1,038 hryvnias per month, equal to 40% of the subsistence minimum for non-working persons (2,595 hryvnias). The amounts for other categories are smaller.

### Q: Does the supplement replace the basic pension?
**A:** No. The supplement is added to the pension the person is already entitled to (old-age, disability, survivor's, or years-of-service pension), rather than replacing it.

### Q: From what date is the supplement calculated if a person applies within 12 months?
**A:** If the application is submitted within 12 months after the right was acquired, the supplement is established from the date that right was acquired. Payments at the increased minimum have been made since 1 January 2026.