Ukrainian pensioners may have their benefits suspended after moving abroad, according to the Pension Fund of Ukraine
Ukrainian insurance coverage does not guarantee that a pension will automatically be maintained after a pensioner moves abroad. In some cases, the Pension Fund of Ukraine may refuse to grant or recalculate benefits, or may suspend a pension that has already been granted.
The provisions of Ukraine’s international agreement with the specific country of residence are of key importance.
The expert emphasized that it is important to distinguish between a refusal to grant or recalculate a pension and the termination of payments that have already been granted.
Possible grounds for refusing to pay a Ukrainian pension abroad include:
- the absence of an international social security agreement with the country of residence;
- failure to meet the conditions of the relevant international agreement;
- unconfirmed insurance coverage period;
- the individual’s improper residency status in another country.
If there is no relevant agreement with the country of residence or if it provides for a proportional payment principle, the Ukrainian pension may be suspended or paid only in the amount corresponding to the insurance record acquired in Ukraine.
According to Kamilova, if a pension has already been granted, one of the grounds for suspending payments may be the pensioner’s departure to take up permanent residence in a country with which Ukraine does not have a relevant agreement.
Problems may also arise due to failure to undergo the mandatory annual in-person verification.
“If the agreement provides for pension payments based on the principle of territoriality, the country of residence makes the payments, and payments from Ukraine cease as soon as the new status is acquired,” the lawyer explained.
In addition, payments may be at risk if the retiree:
- fails to notify the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) of a change in residence or status;
- has not submitted the required supporting documents;
- provided inaccurate information about their insurance record or earnings;
- has not completed the required identification process.
Thus, the mere fact of having insurance coverage in Ukraine does not mean that a retiree will automatically receive a Ukrainian pension abroad. Everything depends on the rules in effect in the specific country, the terms of the international agreement, and compliance with the established procedure.
The lawyer advises pensioners to find out in advance what rules apply in their future country of residence, review the text of the relevant bilateral agreement, and obtain official clarification from the Pension Fund.
This will help determine in advance whether the Ukrainian pension will be maintained, the amount that will be paid, and under what conditions payments may be suspended.
According to the Pension Fund, as of July 1, 2026, there were 9.98 million pensioners in Ukraine.
Since the beginning of the year, their number has decreased by 190,500 people. The average pension amount is 7,273 UAH.
At the same time, 2.8 million pensioners, or 28%, continue to work. One in four pensioners receives payments of about 3,500 hryvnias.
The government is also working on pension reform, which involves changing the payment system.
This was reported by Marina Kamilova, a lawyer at Winner Partners LLP.
As a reminder, certain categories of Ukrainian pensioners are entitled to a monthly pension supplement for special merits to Ukraine. In 2026, the amount ranges from 596.85 to 908.25 hryvnias, depending on the recipient’s category.
New rules for pension eligibility took effect in Ukraine on August 2. Specifically, the procedure for submitting documents will be simplified, and certain periods of employment will be counted toward the insurance record even in cases where the employer did not pay the unified social contribution.
The average pension in Ukraine has exceeded 7,200 hryvnias.
Starting September 1, teachers in Ukraine are guaranteed a 20% pay raise.
The Pension Fund explained how to receive a one-time payment before Independence Day.
