Pensioners are on the verge of survival: more than 6 million Ukrainians receive less than 5 thousand UAH per month
10 February 16:50
Almost 300,000 pensioners receive a pension equal to the subsistence level. But more than 6 million have less than 5 thousand hryvnias a month. This data was released by the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine at the request of "Komersant Ukrainian". However, the situation is much worse if we take into account a wider range of low-income citizens.
The First Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Social Policy announced the latest estimates in the reports on payments to pensioners.
“According to the report on the distribution of pensioners by the amount of monthly pensions as of October 1, 2024, the number of pensioners receiving a pension in the amount of the subsistence minimum (minimum pension) is 277,730 people, which is almost 3% of the total number of pensioners,” Daria Marchak said
- 2,667,096 people (25.8%) receive a pension of less than UAH 3,000;
- 4,462,331 people (43.1%) receive less than UAH 4,000;
- 6,384,670 people (61.7%) receive less than UAH 5,000.
These figures show that the majority of Ukrainian pensioners are on the verge of poverty, and their payments do not cover even their basic needs.
Pension supplements: who can get a supplement and for what?
Ukrainian pensioners who have more years of service than the insurance standard can count on a pension supplement. It is accrued for each year of work beyond the required insurance period established by law.
In accordance with Article 28 of the Law of Ukraine “On Compulsory State Pension Insurance”, the right to such a supplement is granted to citizens who have a record in their employment record book of
- more than 35 years of service (for men);
- more than 30 years of service (for women).
The supplement is only paid to pensioners who receive an old-age pension.
The amount of the supplement is 1% of the minimum old-age pension, which is determined based on the subsistence minimum for persons who have lost their ability to work. In 2025, this subsistence minimum is UAH 2,361, which means that the surcharge is UAH 23.61 for each year over the minimum.
For example, if a pensioner has 5 years of excess service, he or she will receive UAH 118.05 in pension supplement.
It is also important to note that if a pensioner’s pension exceeds the subsistence minimum, the supplement will be calculated from this minimum. If the pension is less than the subsistence level, the amount of the supplement will be correspondingly lower.
What is important for working pensioners to know?
Pensioners who continue to work will receive a recalculation of the supplement after retirement if the subsistence minimum increases in the country.
Monthly supplement for single pensioners
It should also be noted that single pensioners who need care may receive a monthly supplement of UAH 944 in 2025.
These surcharges are intended to partially compensate for the expenses of elderly Ukrainians, but the question of the sufficiency of such amounts remains open.
