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Publication date: 17.05.2024
Ukrainians who worked abroad will receive pensions taking into account the insurance experience obtained in other countries
An important step towards justice and support of citizens
On April 25, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted, in the second reading and in its entirety, draft law No. 9453 "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding Regulation of the Calculation of Insurance Experience and Pension Benefits." This draft law, developed by the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, introduces significant changes to the pension system of Ukrainians who worked abroad.
Context and need for change
After the large-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, Ukraine severed diplomatic relations with the aggressor, which led to the cessation of contacts and document circulation between state institutions, in particular pension funds. This created serious problems for Ukrainians who moved from the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as they could not confirm that they were not receiving pensions from the Russian pension authorities. Accordingly, they could not receive pensions in Ukraine.
In addition, the withdrawal of Ukraine and Russia from the Agreement between the CIS member states on the guarantee of the rights of citizens in relation to pension provision deprived Ukrainians of the opportunity to take into account the periods of work in Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan towards their insurance experience in Ukraine. This significantly reduced their pension rights or deprived them of their right to a pension altogether.Basic provisions of the adopted law
Simplification of the pension restoration mechanism for Crimeans
From now on, persons who have moved from Crimea need only submit an application stating that they do not receive a pension in Crimea and wish to receive it in Ukraine. To calculate the pension, you can provide a work book or a pension file, without the need to receive confirmation from the Russian pension authorities.
Taking into account the insurance experience gained in other countries: In order to determine the right to a pension, the insurance experience gained in other countries will be taken into account, even if there is no pension agreement with this country. For example, a person who worked in Italy will be able to count this period of work to determine the right to a pension in Ukraine.
Proportional pension accrual principle
To determine the amount of the pension, only contributions/EUV paid in Ukraine will be taken into account. The size of the pension will depend on the number of insurance contributions paid in Ukraine and the length of service until January 1, 2024.
Enrollment of seniority according to international agreements:
Periods of work or military service under the terms of ratified international agreements will be included in the insurance seniority. If contracts are not concluded, seniority will be counted in accordance with the procedure determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
Exclusion of periods of work for the aggressor country
The law stipulates that periods of work or military service in law enforcement agencies, illegal armed or paramilitary formations, judicial or law enforcement bodies of the aggressor state in temporarily occupied territories after 2014 are not included in the insurance record.Further steps
This law shall enter into force on the day following its publication. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine shall, within three months from the date of publication of the law, harmonize its normative legal acts with this law, as well as ensure the harmonization of ministries and other central bodies of executive power.
Physical identification of pensioners
Pensioners who are abroad will be able to undergo a physical identification procedure and confirm their right to a pension. The pension will be paid to the current accounts of banks located on the territory of Ukraine, provided that physical identification is completed by December 31 of each year. It will be possible to do this in the bodies of the Pension Fund or in a personal electronic account on the web portal of the Pension Fund using a qualified electronic signature "Action.Signature" ("Action ID"), or using a video conference call, or by certifying at a consular institution the fact that the person is alive. You may be interested in the following articles: consultation, conclusion, analysis, documents, pension, recalculation, pension recalculation, pension recalculation
Conclusion
The adoption of this law is an important step towards ensuring justice and support for Ukrainians who worked abroad. It allows taking into account their insurance experience obtained in other countries, which significantly improves their pension rights. This decision emphasizes Ukraine's desire to modernize its pension system and adapt it to the conditions that arose after the break in diplomatic relations with the aggressor country.
