Pensions in March: who will receive an increase, and who will not
18 February 14:40
Pension indexation is planned in Ukraine starting March 1. For the largest category of pensioners—those who receive 3,000-4,000 hryvnia—this means an increase of several hundred hryvnia. The increase in pensions was confirmed by Social Policy Minister Denys Ulyutin, who said that the indexation will be higher than last year, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to the minister, the Pension Fund’s budget for 2026 has been approved, and this year the state will spend more than 1.2 trillion hryvnia on pensioners. Ulyutin claims that the budget is “balanced and there is no deficit.”
Who will see their pensions increase after indexation?
“White” salary: Citizens who have received a high official salary throughout their lives and whose estimated pension is, for example, 8,000 hryvnia, will receive 12.1% of their pension, i.e., an additional 968 hryvnia.
Participants in the liquidation of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant: the pensions of “Chernobyl victims” are usually tied to the average salary or have coefficients that are well indexed, so their increase may be significant.
Military pensioners: if indexation is carried out on a general basis, as provided for by law, military pensions will also increase.
So, approximately how much can pensioners expect
- if the pension is 4,100 UAH, the increase will be about 496 UAH
- if it is 4,300 UAH — approximately 520 UAH
- if it is 4,500 UAH — about 545 UAH
- if it is 4,700 UAH — approximately 569 UAH
- if it is 5,000 UAH — about 605 UAH.
However, it is worth remembering that only the basic, calculated part of the pension is indexed. Allowances for age, length of service, etc. are not indexed.
There are over 10 million pensioners in Ukraine, but not all of them are covered by pension indexation. The increase only applies to those who retired more than three years ago, so “young” pensioners are not eligible.
Who will not be affected by pension indexation
“Young pensioners” People who retired in 2024, 2025, and early 2026 will not be indexed, as their pensions are already calculated on the basis of the new, higher average salary.
Recipients of maximum pensions: citizens whose pension reaches 10 subsistence minimums, which this year is 25,950 hryvnia, are unlikely to see an increase.
Special pensioners: judges, prosecutors, and other categories of special pensioners are unlikely to count on indexation, as their pensions often increase not because of it, but because of salary increases for their younger colleagues who are currently working.
Indexation is carried out automatically — without submitting an application. You can check the new pension amount in your personal account on the Pension Fund of Ukraine’s electronic services web portal.
