Retirement age in Ukraine: what time do people retire in 2021?

When to apply for a pension

In Ukraine, old-age pensions are assigned in accordance with the law “On Compulsory State Insurance” and subject to the following conditions:

• availability of sufficient insurance experience;
• reaching retirement age.

Legislative innovations: Verification Law: how subsidies, pensions and other payments will change

A Ukrainian receives the right to receive a pension upon reaching retirement age. A person can apply for payments at any time after reaching retirement age or no earlier than a month before reaching this age.

If a potential pensioner applies to the Pension Fund no later than three months from the date he reaches retirement age, payments will be assigned from the next day after reaching the age of retirement.

Regarding the retirement age, according to the pension reform, from October 1, 2011, the retirement age and the minimum insurance period required to assign these payments have been increased. And from January 1, 2021, there is a gradual increase in the pension period in Ukraine. So Ukrainians can go on a well-deserved rest and receive a pension after reaching 60 years of age and if they have insurance coverage:

• from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 – at least 27 years of age;
• from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 – at least 28 years of age;
• from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 – at least 29 years of age;
• from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 – at least 30 years;
• from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024 – at least 31 years of age;
• from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025 – at least 32 years;
• from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026 – at least 33 years;
• from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2027 – at least 34 years old;
• starting from January 1, 2028 – at least 35 years.

Ukrainian men and women have the same retirement age – 60 years. True, representatives of the fair half of humanity will retire at 60 only from 2021. Now for women born in 1961 and older, the retirement age is increasing gradually.

• Those born before September 30, 1956 will retire at age 55.
• Those born between October 1, 1956 and March 31, 1957 will retire at 55 years and 6 months.
• Those born between April 1, 1957 and September 30, 1957 will retire at age 56.
• Those born between October 1, 1957 and March 31, 1958 will retire at 56 years and 6 months.
• Those born between April 1, 1958 and September 30, 1958 will retire at age 57.
• Those born between October 1, 1958 and March 31, 1959 will retire at 57 years and 6 months.
• Those born between April 1, 1959 and September 30, 1959 will retire at age 58.
• Those born between October 1, 1959 and March 31, 1960 will retire at 58 years and 6 months.
• Those born between April 1, 1960 and September 20, 1960 will retire at age 59.
• Those born between October 1, 1960 and March 31, 1961 will retire at 59 years and 6 months.
• Those born between April 1, 1961 and December 31, 1961 will retire at age 60.

How they plan to simplify the process of receiving pensions in the occupied territories, see here:

If a woman or man worked for some time without official registration or for other reasons does not have sufficient work experience, they will be granted old-age pensions after reaching 63 years of age. However, to calculate payments, you still need to have work experience:

• from 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2020 – from 17 to 27 years;
• from 01/01/2021 to 31/12/2021 – from 18 to 28 years;
• from 01/01/2022 to 31/12/2022 – from 19 to 29 years old;
• from 01/01/2023 to 31/12/2023 – from 20 to 30 years;
• from 01/01/2024 to 31/12/2024 – from 21 to 31 years;
• from 01.01.2025 to 31.12.2025 – from 22 to 32 years;
• from 01/01/2026 to 31/12/2026 – from 23 to 33 years;
• from 01/01/2027 to 31/12/2027 – from 24 to 34 years;
• starting from January 1, 2028 – from 25 to 35 years.

It is important that from 2028, if a person has 40 years of work experience, a pension will be assigned to him regardless of age.

Implementation of pension reform

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has made further changes to pension legislation.

According to the new bill, the insurance period will be increased in 2021.

Now, to receive an average pension in Ukraine, the work experience for men will be 35 years, for women – 30 years.

Pension experience in Ukraine is calculated in months

New pension laws will have an impact on the premium for overtime work. The total length of service for a pension, if we mean the “minimum wage,” has been increased. Against this background, the mechanism for calculating allowances was changed.

The size of the premiums remained unchanged – 1%.

Pensions will now be calculated based on the average salary for 36 months.

At the same time, the country's authorities have simplified taxation as much as possible and improved working conditions for entrepreneurs.

If the country's budget becomes larger, indexation will be carried out. This will affect not only beneficiaries, but also representatives of other categories.

Conditions for receiving pension contributions

A prerequisite for obtaining an old-age pension is the insurance period. If it is absent, then a person who has reached retirement age has the right to receive only “social benefits”.

Payment of pensions to disabled people is made only if their insurance period varies from 2 to 5 years. The age of the recipient is of great importance. Each disability group has its own coefficients. This benefit is calculated based on age.

You can learn more about early retirement in the video below.

Military benefits will also be calculated based on the insurance period. According to the new law, the insurance period for military personnel is 20 years of service. Age is not taken into account.

The work experience for Chernobyl victims is 5 years.

Pension payments are assigned only if all conditions are met.

Retirement age for women

The retirement age for women has been gradually increasing since 2010. It is expected that in 2021 the fair sex will finally be equalized with men. Retirement will be possible for them only from the age of 60.

Possibility of lowering the retirement age

The issue of allowing women to retire in Ukraine at the age of 55 or earlier is currently being considered. According to Rada deputies, there are the following reasons for lowering the age criteria for the female population:

• weak economic development of the state;
• lack of demand in the labor market;
• decreased life expectancy;
• low salary;
• significant deterioration in living conditions.

The issue of retirement age worries every working citizen of Ukraine

Today, a bill is being actively considered to reduce the age criteria for representatives of the weaker half of humanity who have 3 or more children. Insurance experience must be at least 20 years.

The bill does not apply to women who abuse children, are deprived of parental rights and have an outstanding criminal record.

Perhaps a woman will be able to retire earlier in the near future.

A few more conditions

The country's authorities have developed several conditions. Compliance with them will make women’s retirement earlier and more comfortable.

You can find out at what age Ukrainians can take early retirement from the video below.

The conditions for early retirement are as follows:

1. Duration of total experience – 16 years.
2. Born between April 1 and September 30, 1959 and lack of official work.
3. Working as a civil servant.
4. Having 5 dependent children under six years of age.
5. Having dependent children with a disability group.
6. Having a disability since childhood.

Also, the age will not be raised for medical workers who took part in the Afghan war and teachers born in January - July 1966.

If a person continues to work officially, then for every “overtime” six months, an additional payment of 2.5% will be due to the benefit.

Male persons whose activities were related to science can receive a pension at 62 years of age.

Afghans will receive a long-service pension starting at the age of 55.

From 2028, benefits will be paid to older people regardless of age. The main condition for obtaining them will be the presence of 40 years of insurance experience.

Raising the preferential retirement age for teachers provides for a transition period from 2021

Information for doctors and teachers

Recently, the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers increased the length of service required to calculate pensions for the following categories of persons:

• teachers;
• doctors;
• civil servants working in social protection agencies.

The length of service required to receive a pension for a doctor or an employee of a residential care facility today is 25 years.

In March, deputies of the Rada introduced another change, according to which the preferential retirement age will be gradually increased by 5 years. This applies to both medical workers and people working in hazardous enterprises.

Starting from 2015, the age for receiving a pension in Ukraine is gradually increasing by six months. On 04/01/2024 it will be 30 years.

Innovations in 2020: retirement age

In 2021, many updates are expected for those who have retired or are planning to do so. In our country, old-age pension payments are assigned in accordance with the law “On Compulsory State Insurance”, as well as subject to two nuances:

• availability of the necessary insurance experience;
• reaching the age of 60 years.

If a future pensioner comes to the Pension Fund no later than 3 months from the date he reaches the required age to receive a pension, payment will be assigned from the next day after reaching the retirement age.

Draft laws and changes on retirement age in Ukraine

According to the latest data, a bill has been proposed in Ukraine that would change the retirement age for women. The authors of the bill, registered in the Verkhovna Rada by Servants of the People, believe that in 2011 women were treated unfairly. More precisely, the time of retirement should not depend on the date of birth. If the proposed bill is approved, women will become pensioners much earlier - at 55 years old. However, there is an important limitation: this will only become possible if there is no job, that is, it will be prohibited to work and receive a pension at the same time at 55 years of age.

As for the male population, in Ukraine by 2028, approximately half of 60-year-old men will be able to retire on time. The rest, due to lack of experience, will work until they are 63 or 65 years old. The Ministry of Social Policy indicated that in 2028 only 55% of men will have the required years of experience. Those who remain will have to work until they are 63 and 65 years old. The number of pensioners who will not receive pensions will increase annually.

It is important to distinguish between old age pension and long service pension payments. Thus, “age” pension payments today are tied to the border of 60 years for women and 65 years for men. But in a number of professions, pensions are provided based on length of service.

Minimum pensions 2020

In 2021, the size of the minimum pension will increase, since the cost of living will increase from December 1. True, payments will grow very slowly: the increase will be 74 hryvnia. Thus, after recalculation, pensioners will receive 1,638 hryvnia instead of 1,564 hryvnia.

On topic: How pensions will grow in 2021: state budget law

The next recalculation of minimum pensions is scheduled for July 1, payments will increase to 1,712 hryvnia, subsequently on December 1, 2020, the amount will increase to 1,769 hryvnia. The greatest increase in pensions will be felt by those who have the maximum: from 15,640, payments will increase to 16,380 hryvnia.

Payments are recalculated automatically, so there is no need to contact the Pension Fund.

Raising the retirement age in Ukraine

Today, the retirement age is gradually increasing. This is due to the fact that at the end of 2021, World Bank specialists proposed to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine a plan to increase the retirement age in order to solve the problem of the growing deficit of the Pension Fund. They recommended warning the population about this several years before the new law comes into force so that people can adapt to the new conditions. This practice of “deferred” promotion has been successfully used abroad. This allowed people to better adapt to the new rules. The World Bank also supports the Ukrainian reform of increasing the importance of the role of insurance experience.

The formal age for retirement remains 60 years (for both men and women). But now the requirements for the length of insurance coverage have increased. Moreover, with each subsequent year, the length of service should increase by a year, i.e. every year - plus 12 months.

For example, in 2028, to receive a pension at the age of 60, a person will need to have 35 years of work experience. If he does not have such experience, he will be able to retire only at 63 years old. Even if by the age of 65 a person has less than 15 years of experience, he may not be granted a pension! He will only receive social assistance, the amount of which will be determined by the level of family income.

What about the funded pension?

We have repeatedly written that funded pensions in Ukraine are a matter of long-term prospects. But how does the second level of the pension system fit in with the new bill?

Maxim Oryshchak draws attention: if Tretyakova’s law is adopted, then in 2035 Ukrainians will retire at 61 years old, and the launch of the funded pension system is planned from January 1, 2023.

“That is, there is no overlap in age, and the funded pension system will begin to operate without reference to the age of 61,” says Oryshchak. – So no special tragedy will happen, and Ukrainians adapt to the new state of affairs out of despair.

At the same time, Alexey Kush believes that specifically in relation to funded pensions, the age of start of payments can be varied and brought closer to European figures. But at the same time, we must understand that the funded system will not play any role over the next 15 years - this is an “economic bluff.”

Retirement age in Ukraine and preferential categories of pensioners

As we have already found out, the retirement age is tied to length of service, and every next year the requirements for the amount of required insurance experience will increase. At the same time, there are categories of citizens who have the right to a pension on preferential terms.

These include:

• Workers employed full-time in underground work, in work with particularly harmful and particularly difficult working conditions ( list No. 1 ). These people can retire when they turn 50 and have at least 25 years of work experience for men, of which at least 10 years in the specified jobs, and at least 20 years for women, of which at least 7 years 6 months on these jobs.
• Workers employed full-time in other jobs with harmful and difficult working conditions ( list No. 2 ). These employees can plan to retire upon reaching the age of 55 and with at least 30 years of work experience for men, of which at least 12 years 6 months in the specified jobs, and at least 25 years for women, of which at least 10 years in the specified jobs works.
• Tractor drivers and others employed in agriculture. Men can count on retirement from the age of 55, but if they have a total work experience of at least 30 years, of which at least 20 years in the specified positions.
• Women who worked as tractor drivers, drivers of construction, road and loading and unloading machines mounted on tractors and excavators . It is enough for them to have a total work experience of 25 years, of which 15 years at the specified job and retire at 55 years.
• Milkmaids (machine milking operators), pig farmers-operators at agricultural enterprises; women engaged in tobacco cultivation; textile workers. Their retirement age is also 55 years and their work experience is at least 20 years.
• Women who have worked in agriculture and raised five or more children are entitled to preferential pensions regardless of age and length of service.
• Drivers of urban passenger transport and trucks employed in heavy and hazardous industries . They can apply for pensions at age 55. Men must have 30 years of experience, including at least 12 years 6 months in these positions; respectively, for women - 25 and at least 10 years.

In addition to preferential conditions for retirement, Ukrainian legislation retains the concept of a long-service pension . It is prescribed to people who were employed in work, the performance of which could lead to professional disability before retirement age. An important condition for granting a pension for long service is a certain length of work in the specialty and dismissal from this place of work. In some cases, they are appointed regardless of age, in others, age and length of service are established.

Have the right to a long service pension

Retirement age in Ukraine: 2021

The law, which modernizes pension reform in Ukraine and changes the retirement age, will be introduced in stages.

The insurance period is an important point that has been in force in Ukraine since 2004. Since this period, it has been of considerable importance, namely, how long and to what extent the employer paid insurance contributions to the Pension Fund, and not the fact how many people worked in the company. You should make sure in advance that you will have enough insurance coverage to definitely receive a pension in old age. Otherwise, you can buy it.

Retirement age in Ukraine for women, table

Starting from 2028, the insurance period must be at least 35 years. Women can now retire at age 59 and a half. In the table below you can calculate when you can retire. Pensions in Ukraine are especially interesting for women who do not want to work extra years or add additional experience.

Women

Starting from 2028, the insurance period must be at least 35 years.

Retirement age in Ukraine for men

For reference:

• a loan at 0% can be obtained for up to 10 days;
• more than 650 companies provide microcredit services in Ukraine, and most of them provide loans to pensioners
• The concept of an urgent loan means filling out an application online and receiving a response within 4-15 minutes.

To calculate a man's retirement age, also use the above table.

The size of the old-age pension from January 2021 is 1669.20 UAH, this is the minimum amount that a pensioner can receive. For those who worked and managed to earn experience, 1% will be added for each year.

All Ukrainians who have reached 63 years of age and have earned the established insurance period can count on 40% of the minimum wage, but not less than 1,497 UAH. When the minimum wage is increased, this amount will automatically increase.

Men

The minimum age pension from January 2021 is UAH 1,669.20. Next, the size of wages and insurance premiums is taken into account. If you have work experience under difficult employment conditions, you will receive an addition to the accrued amount of 1% for each year of work. Anyone who has reached the age of 63 and has earned the established insurance period can count on 40% of their average salary. When the minimum wage increases, the pension amount will be automatically recalculated.

Pension “in a new way”

The new pension reform in Ukraine has a modernized formula for calculating monthly payments depending on the average salary:

Pension = Сз*Iкз*Кс, where:

• Сз – average salary for the last 3 years before retirement;
• Ikz – the ratio of accrued wages to actual wages received;
• Kc is a multiplier of the total duration of a person’s work up to the value of 1 year of insurance experience.

Important! From the beginning, the coefficient of 1 year of insurance experience is equal to one. This means that many Ukrainians may not receive a pension increase.

How to apply for an old age pension

After reaching retirement age, a citizen of Ukraine receives the right to a pension. Regulates the process of registration of pensions. The procedure for submitting and processing documents for the assignment (recalculation) of pensions in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Compulsory State Pension Insurance”.

You can apply for it at any time after the rights to it arise or no earlier than a month before reaching retirement age. But you shouldn’t delay it either. Only if a person applies to the Pension Fund no later than 3 months from the date he reaches retirement age, a pension will be assigned from the next day after the retirement age.

What documents will be needed to apply for an old-age pension?

• application in the prescribed form;
• passport (original and photocopy);
• documents about the place of residence (registration) of the pensioner;
• children's birth certificate (if necessary);
• marriage certificate (if necessary, original and photocopy);
• application and current account number at an authorized bank institution;
• work book (original and photocopy) and other documents on work experience;
• identification code or certificate of compulsory state social insurance;
• a certificate from the military registration and enlistment office confirming military service, military ID (if any);
• diploma and other documents that confirm periods of full-time study until 01/01/2004 (original and photocopy);
• at the request of the pensioner and subject to confirmation by primary documents, a salary certificate for any 60 consecutive months until June 30, 2000, regardless of breaks.

The list is quite large, but the gradual transfer of data into digital format significantly reduces bureaucracy.

Documents required for applying for an old-age pension

The assignment of pension payments on the territory of Ukraine is carried out subject to the appropriate age and insurance period. The package of documents required for submission to the PFU is presented:

• an application on behalf of a person applying for a pension;
• an original and a copy of a document confirming the person’s identity;
• inn;
• certificate from place of residence or registration;
• birth statistics of children if necessary);
• a copy and original document confirming work experience;
• certificate of state insurance;
• original military ID;
• documents on education, on full-time studies in educational institutions up to 01/01/2004;
• a certificate confirming the employee’s earnings for the last 5 years.

Initially, the future document is addressed to the Pension Fund for the purpose of calculating the pension using an online calculator, thanks to which it will first familiarize itself with future payments.

How to apply for a pension without registration

From January 1, 2021, pensions can be issued not at the place of registration, but at the place of actual residence within Ukraine. Such changes are included in the strategy for modernization and development of the Pension Fund until 2021, adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Thus, a pensioner can apply to any institution of the Pension Fund system, taking with him the necessary documents. The case for granting a pension will be generated electronically. The pension is assigned automatically; a Pension Fund employee is needed only at the stage of entering information into the electronic database, which significantly shortens the procedure.

And after the launch of the Unified Register of Pensioners and Taxpayers in 2021, receiving a pension anywhere in our country has become even easier. By the way, this service allows you to avoid paying pensions to “dead souls”.

Changing the retirement age in Ukraine - depending on the category

In the coming years, the retirement age will depend on the length of service, in monetary terms - on the size of salary. Despite the fact that the length of service for retirement has been increased, each category of workers on well-deserved retirement will receive different monetary remuneration.

Teachers

According to the pension reform, 30 years of experience is mandatory for teachers. If it is available, the retirement age in Ukraine in 2021 may be 55 years. In addition, teachers can count on additional payment for length of service. Starting from 04/01/2019 to 03/31/2020, in order to take leave based on age, a teacher only needs to have 27 years and 6 months of experience. If it’s not there, you’ll have to work for years.

Combatants

Changes in the retirement age in Ukraine also affected combatants. Afghans also fall into this category. The retirement age for women in Ukraine, provided they have the specified category and have at least 20 years of experience, is 50 years, for men with 25 years of experience - 55 years.

The package of documents for obtaining a cash benefit is slightly different from the usual one. Therefore, before switching to retirement, consultation with a PFU specialist is necessary.

Miners

Miners and other workers whose activities are related to the mining industry with at least 25 years of experience, miners, miners, miners with at least 20 years of experience can count on a pension regardless of their true age.

Disabled people

Disabled people of groups 1, 2, 3 of general illness can count on old-age benefits if they have sufficient insurance coverage. For example, to retire at the age of 56, disabled people of groups 2 and 3 need at least 14 years of insurance experience. Upon reaching the retirement age established by law, in order to receive payments, a disabled person must have at least 15 years of insurance experience.

Military personnel

When asked what the retirement age is for military personnel in Ukraine, PFU specialists answer that the retirement age of this category is 65 years for men with 35 years of work experience and women with 30 years of experience. At the same time, the legislation provides for the recalculation of payments. The increase will be from 15% to 40% depending on the rank, type of work and place of service.

Beneficiaries

The category of beneficiaries includes women aged 45 years, who have half of the minimum work experience (15 years) in the mining industry.

The retirement age for men in 2021 in Ukraine can be 50 years, provided that half of the minimum allowable insurance period (20 years) is work in a mine. The conditions for retirement at 55 years of age are suitable for women who raised 5 or more children or a disabled child.

Providing pensions to certain categories of citizens

Some Ukrainians have the right to early retirement. These include:

• people with disorders of the supporting apparatus (midgets and dwarfs) - at 45 years old men and 40 years old women;
• visually impaired people of the 1st group - upon reaching 50 and 40 years of age for men and women, respectively;
• women with many children (those who independently gave birth to and raised 5 or more children have the right to retire at the age of 50, subject to 15 years of experience. If the children were raised by the father independently, then he has the right to leave his career at the age of 55;
• persons who belong to certain categories of military personnel and others from this list can leave service at the age of 55 (men) and 50 (women). In this case, the total length of service must be at least 25 and 20 years for men and women, respectively.

Important! Pensioners can apply for a recalculation of their benefits within two years after the pension reform comes into force.

Calculation of pensions in Ukraine

Two conditions are met when calculating payments:

• insurance experience;
• retirement age.

In the period from the beginning of 2021 to 2028, the length of service is systematically increased from 25 to 35 years, annually by 12 months.

The old-age pension for any Ukrainian in 2021 is calculated using a single formula, but the final amount depends on the amount of earnings from which insurance premiums were levied and the length of service. There is a wide range of additional payments, allowances, and increases.

Note from BBQcash: payments are accrued from the second day from the date of reaching the specified age, if the application to the Pension Fund occurred no earlier than 1 and no later than 3 months.

The minimum amount of the old-age pension for January 2021 is UAH 1,669.20. Today this is 40% of the lower wage level. This amount will automatically increase if the minimum wage increases.

From January of this year, Ukrainians who have made contributions for at least 15 years will retire at the age of 65. 40 calendar years of insurance experience ensures receipt of a pension regardless of age.

From January 1, 2021, Ukrainians will go on a well-deserved rest, regardless of gender:

The state provided the right to purchase the missing experience. Double the minimum insurance amount is paid per month. About 84,000 UAH. you will have to spend the maximum period of missing experience of 5 years.

Important information from BBQcash: the social pension is equal to the cost of living. Citizens of retirement age, but who have not earned the required length of service, have the right to receive it during the implementation of the reform. Social protection accepts elderly Ukrainians with a package of documents intended for the Pension Fund.

Women

They go on vacation earlier, but every 6 months this bar rises and will reach 60 years by 2021.

Useful information from BBQcash: for every six months of delayed retirement, the pension of women born before December 31, 1961 increases by 2.5%.

Interesting from BBQcash: deputies of the Servant of the People party presented a bill restoring justice to women for consideration in the Verkhovna Rada. The authors propose to give Ukrainian women the opportunity to retire at the age of 55, but on the condition that they do not have a job. It will be prohibited to work and receive a pension at the same time at this age.

Men

In Ukraine, people retire at 60; for civil servants, the retirement age has been increased to 62.

By 2028, only 55% of men will be able to earn the required insurance length and finish their working career at 60 years old.

Military service and entrepreneurship under the simplified taxation system are still taken into account in the insurance period. If the amount paid per month is less than the minimum contribution, then it is not taken into account or half of it is counted. Studying at a higher educational institution, postgraduate school, doctoral studies is deleted from the accounting period. Therefore, many will be forced to work until they are 63 and 65 years old.

Important information from BBQcash: from January 1, 2021, the amount of the minimum insurance premium is UAH 918.06, which corresponds to 22% of the minimum wage.

Situation in Russia

The decision to gradually change the retirement age for Russian citizens was made in 2021 on the basis of federal law.

The process is gradual and is designed for ten years (until 2028). By this time, the retirement age will change by 5 years - up to 65 years.

Social benefits in old age are received by residents of the country who have not earned work experience and points for an insurance pension. So, men will be able to receive a similar pension at 65 years old, not at 60, and men at 70 years old instead of 65.

The pension reform will not affect current pensioners, workers in hazardous industries, disabled people, mothers of many children and women with five disabled children.

In addition, early retirement is provided for citizens who have the required number of years of experience. In particular, women who have worked 37 years or more, and men at least 42 years, can retire at 55 and 60 years old, respectively.

Citizens who are near retirement age and are unable to find work can also apply for social benefits two years earlier.

People living in the Far North and territories that are equivalent to them retire 5 years earlier. For women this age is 55 years, and for men - 60 years.

If a person wants to leave under labor protection, he must work in the Far North for 15 calendar years and 20 years in equivalent territories. The insurance period has not changed, which allows women to retire at 20 years old, and men at 25 years old.

The general rules do not apply to indigenous peoples and women raising two or more children.

Table 2. Retirement of certain categories of the Russian population

Pension payments in Russia

In 2021, in the Russian Federation, the government indexed pensions at 3.4%. The revision of social benefits is associated with an increase in the increase in the cost of living of a pensioner over the previous year. From April 1, the average social pension is 10,183 rubles.

From January 1, 2021, insurance pensions were indexed by 6.3%, which made it possible to increase payments to 15,744 rubles.

Table 3. Indexation of pensions in Russia in 2015-2023.

Table 4. Average pension in the Russian Federation in 2016-2021.

The impact of new pension reforms on the lives of citizens

In Ukraine, the number of pensioners increases every year and the number of the working population decreases. The demographic situation is getting worse every day. In this regard, the budget deficit is constantly increasing. The state is taking drastic measures, increasing the retirement age. This is sad, but positive changes are not expected in the near future. Many young professionals strive to go to work abroad, since not only wages are higher there, but also the standard of living and social guarantees.

If we talk about the USA and Europe, the retirement age there is also rising, but people can afford to travel, do what they love or start a business. Pensioners are offered various beneficial programs. At the same time, they are actively encouraged for their desire to continue working.

If we talk about Japan, then in this country the level of pension depends on the age of entry into it. And the later you register it, the higher it is. In this way, they help citizens work longer.

In recent years, pensions have practically not increased. According to the new law, it depends on the minimum wage, which in turn depends on inflation. This means that it will be adjusted automatically as these values ​​increase.

Each citizen decides for himself at what age to retire. The law prescribes only minimum requirements. Upon reaching retirement age, a person can apply for accruals at any time.

However, it is worth noting that the money will be calculated from the moment of registration, therefore, in order not to lose funds, it is better not to postpone this matter for a long time. At the same time, the law does not specify any deadlines for registration, which means it can be issued at any time, even after several years.

How did Ukrainians react to the new project?

The reaction to raising the retirement age was negative. On the Internet, people often discuss that all changes do not promise anything good, and they only lose from such innovations. However, it is worth understanding that these are critical measures, since otherwise there will simply not be enough money in the budget and this will lead to a global catastrophe in the country.

The new rules are in line with European countries. However, their use in Ukraine does not entirely correspond to reality, because the amounts of payments and living conditions are very far from the European level. We also have a very low life expectancy, which means many retirees simply don't keep up on Social Security. Therefore, people hope that the authorities will understand that such indicators are simply unrealistic for the country.

And again comparisons with Europe

Ukrainians have long noticed this paradox: before the elections they promise us European salaries and pensions, but after the elections they “make us Europe” on all fronts except income. Ukrainians are generously showered with “European tariffs”, “European taxes”, “European retirement age”, but the salaries remain “African”, and in the future they do not plan to pay pensions at all.

The authors of the bill decided to keep up with the times, citing as an example the retirement age in dozens of countries - they say, in Spain and Sweden it is 65 years, and in Norway and Iceland it is 67!

But experts insist these comparisons are flawed for a variety of reasons.

Firstly, the average life expectancy in Ukraine is 72.1 years, while in Iceland it is 83, and in Norway it is 82.4. That is, even at the current retirement age, the average Ukrainian lives on pension for 12 years, while the average Norwegian lives for more than 15 years.

Secondly, Europe and Ukraine have very different systems of relationships in the labor market. While in European companies you can often find elderly secretaries, and in European restaurants we are often served by gray-haired waiters, in Ukraine even fairly young job seekers cannot find work. A recent study showed that two thirds of Ukrainians over 40 years of age were denied employment due to their age. Thus, by raising the retirement age by one year, legislators are prolonging the suffering of people who, even being 20 years younger, had difficulty finding work for a whole year.

Thirdly, a funded pension system has existed in Europe for a long time, reminds Alexey Kush. But solidarity there acts, rather, as a “social insurance”, and not many people live on it. Europeans are financially interested in retiring later: the later they retire, the more money they will save. And after retirement, he still has 15-20 years of active life ahead of him, when he will have the opportunity to engage in hobbies, have fun, and travel. There is no need to tell you what awaits our old people in retirement.

Finally, Kusch says, the main difference is that our pension system is part of an unspoken “social contract.” No European country has the same experience as ours, when for pennies the entire economy of the country was actually given away to 5-7 oligarchs, and the population that built this economy was left with nothing.

“Relatively speaking, the population tacitly agreed to this in exchange for a certain standard of living: affordable tariffs, decent pensions and salaries, etc.,” summed up Kushch.
– And if the authorities want to revise this “social contract”, then it is necessary to nationalize the economy, and direct the proceeds from privatization to the accumulative pension fund. Thus, by the way, fulfilling the norm of the Constitution, according to which pensions should be financed not only from insurance contributions, but also from budget and other sources. QUESTION FROM THE EDGE

In what cases can you go for early retirement?

There are preferential categories of citizens who have the opportunity to retire earlier than expected. These include:

• Teachers. According to the government decision, the mandatory length of teaching experience for teachers is 30 years. Then the person can continue working as he wishes. The retirement age is adjusted depending on the employee’s age, as well as the availability of special experience. That is, the issue is resolved individually at the Pension Fund after submitting the required package of documents;
• Miners. This is a difficult profession. To receive a well-deserved rest, it is enough to work for 25 years. After this period, people can apply for early social support. If during the period of working life a person had special achievements or awards, then a pension can begin to be paid after 20 years of work experience;
• Military. As for this category of citizens, today the bar is rising. To retire, you must work for at least 25 years. This applies to employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Situations;
• Afghans can qualify for vacation after 25 years of service. The age for early retirement must be at least 55 years. When preparing documents, a mandatory requirement is the identification of a combat participant. Otherwise, a person goes on vacation according to general principles.

A separate category of preferential citizens are people with disabilities, dwarfs, war veterans, as well as employees of hazardous industries. Favorable conditions have been established for them. Everyone else goes on vacation according to the standard program.

Will there be a reduction in age?

The issue of lowering the age of pensioners was raised in Ukraine in two directions, namely:

1. Decrease in age women under 55 years old. The initiators of the bill put forward the following reasons for reducing the age of the female population, such as:
   lack of development of the country's economy;
2. decline in demand in the labor market;
3. deterioration of living conditions;
4. low wages;
5. lack of positive changes in the financial sector after increasing the retirement age for the female population of Ukraine;
6. low life expectancy.

In 2021, this bill did not enter into legal force.

1. Lowering the age criteria for women raising three or more children.

It is important to know!
How to properly monitor tire pressure? At the end of 2021, people's deputies put forward bill number 5343 for consideration. The essence of the law is that a woman who has given birth to three or more children can receive pension contributions at the age of 55. In this case, the total experience must be at least 20 years. The goal of the developed project is to restore social justice for this category of citizens.

Similar material: pension for migrants.

According to the terms of the project, the rights of the law in question will not apply to women who:

• do not raise children properly;
• children are mistreated;
• exploit children;
• do not have parental rights;
• have a valid criminal record.

This bill is under consideration and has not yet entered into force.

How to retire under the old law?

In connection with the innovations, Ukrainians are massively trying to apply for a pension as quickly as possible. Some people still have the right to go on vacation earlier, but you shouldn’t delay submitting documents.

The pension is issued through the local office of the Pension Fund. For registration, you must submit the appropriate package of documents. The list of required documents has also changed with the innovations and now includes:

• Passport.
• Certificate of income for the last 5 years.
• Work book.
• Registration or certificate confirming the place of registration.
• Diploma.
• Bank account for payments. A personal account is needed if you plan to receive funds through a bank, otherwise the pension will be calculated according to postal statements in the branch at the place of registration.

Additional documents that may be required to apply for a pension on preferential terms:

• Documents for children, if special benefits are provided for this. Benefits are provided to mothers with many children and mothers raising disabled children.
• Marriage certificate if special conditions apply.
• Certificate of state social insurance.
• Military ID, for men and women military personnel.
• If available, documents confirming special merits.
• Documents confirming disability.
• UBD certificate and certificates from the military registration and enlistment office confirming completion of special military service (if available).
• A certificate confirming participation in the liquidation of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

All necessary documents are submitted to the local pension administration, a written application is drawn up on the spot, after which the documents are subject to mandatory verification. Verification takes from several weeks to a month, but the pension is calculated from the moment of submission.

During the implementation of the reform, the state provides for the payment of social assistance for those who have already reached the working age, but have not managed to accumulate the required amount of work experience. The amount of assistance is fixed at the subsistence level for disabled citizens. To obtain it, you should contact the social protection authorities with a similar package of documents.

Retirement age: questions and answers

• Is it possible to apply for a pension under the old law?

Yes, you can, but to do this you should hurry to submit documents to the pension fund.

• What to do if you lack a little experience, but there is no opportunity to work?

In Ukraine, it is possible to buy experience for up to 5 years.

• What length of service is required to apply for a military pension?

At least 25 years for employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Emergency Situations.

• Can pensioners in Ukraine continue working?

Yes they can.

Pension reform in Ukraine 2021 and latest news

A funded pension payment system is being introduced in Ukraine. Insurance premiums will be accumulated in an off-budget fund, after which they will become income for the pensioner. This system will directly apply to people who have not reached 35 years of age at the time of its introduction.

In addition, the state will decide on the abolition of pension payments for pensioners who work. But this is not certain yet. Civil servants, prosecutors and judges who received pensions under certain benefits have all been cancelled. Now this category of people receives pension payments based on general requirements. In addition, changes in the pension system of Ukraine may affect the length of service and pensions for able-bodied pensioners.