Publication date: 05.06.2024
Pension security: Your protection and right to a dignified old age
There comes a time in every person's life when, after long years of work, it is time for a well-deserved rest. That is when the issue of pension provision becomes extremely relevant. However, the Ukrainian pension system is complex and dynamic, which often causes difficulties for citizens. In such situations, a pension lawyer or pension lawyer becomes an indispensable assistant.
According to the Pension Fund of Ukraine, as of the beginning of 2023, there are more than 11 million pensioners in the country. Each of them has the right to a decent provision in old age, but realizing this right is not always easy. Changes in legislation, complex formulas for calculating pensions, problems with documents - all this can become an obstacle. This is why the role of a pension lawyer or pension lawyer becomes extremely important.
Who is a pension lawyer or pension lawyer ? He is a specialist specializing in pension legislation. Its task is to help citizens realize their right to a pension in full. The range of issues with which such a specialist works is very wide:
1. Consultation of a lawyer on the accrual of a pension. Many Ukrainians do not understand exactly how their pension is calculated. A pension calculation lawyer will explain all the nuances: how seniority, salary, special working conditions are taken into account. It will help check the correctness of the Pension Fund's calculations.
2. Help with documents. Often, certificates from places of work that no longer exist or documents from occupied territories are required to assign or recalculate a pension. A pension lawyer knows how to get such papers or what they can be replaced with.
3. Appealing decisions. If the Pension Fund has refused to grant a pension or its amount seems unfairly low, do not give up. A pension lawyer will help appeal such a decision first in an administrative procedure, and if necessary - in court.
4. Special categories of pensioners. There are many people in Ukraine who are entitled to special types of pensions: Chernobyl residents, military personnel, miners, scientists and others. A pension fund lawyer (not to be confused with a full-time lawyer of PFU) knows all the nuances of such pensions.
5. Pensions for immigrants. Due to military actions in Ukraine, many people became forced migrants. They often have problems with receiving a pension. A pension lawyer will help to restore payments, draw up the necessary documents.
Special attention should be paid to the role of a pension lawyer in big cities, for example, in Kyiv. The capital attracts people from all over Ukraine, many of whom move here already in adulthood. A pension lawyer in Kyiv is often faced with difficult cases: here are the issues of registration, and the unification of pension cases from different regions, and recalculation taking into account capital allowances.
It is important to understand that pension legislation in Ukraine is constantly changing. Only in the last five years, several significant changes were adopted: the introduction of the accumulation system, changes in the indexation of pensions, new conditions for retirement by age. It is difficult for an ordinary citizen to follow all the innovations. But for a pension lawyer, this is a daily job.
Consultation of a lawyer on pension issues is not only answers to current questions. A good specialist always looks to the future. He can advise on how to better formalize employment relations now so that there are no problems with pensions later. Or explain how participation in a non-state pension fund will affect future benefits.
The issue of pensions is especially acute for people who have worked unofficially for most of their lives. According to various estimates, 20% to 50% of workers are involved in the "shadow" sector of Ukraine's economy. When they reach retirement age, they face meager benefits. Here, legal assistance on pension issues can be simply invaluable: a pension lawyer will find ways to legalize at least part of the "informal" seniority.
Another category that often needs legal advice on pensions is people of pre-retirement age who have lost their jobs. According to the State Statistics Service, the unemployment rate among people aged 50-59 is almost twice as high as among young people. A pension lawyer can advise you on whether you should take early retirement or what alternatives are available.
It is important to remember that the services of a pension lawyer are not an expense, but an investment. Professional consultation of a pension lawyer can increase your pension by hundreds or even thousands of hryvnias every month. In a few years, this difference will add up to a significant amount.
In addition, in some cases, you can get free legal assistance on pension issues. In Ukraine, there is a system of free legal aid, where consultations on social issues, including pension ones, are provided free of charge. Also, many pension lawyers offer an initial consultation free of charge.
In conclusion, pension provision is not just numbers in a paycheck. This is recognition by the state and society of your contribution to the development of the country. This is a guarantee of a decent life after decades of work. And if you need help to receive a fair pension - don't delay.
