In the context of war, many Ukrainians who have gone abroad or remained in temporarily occupied territories face difficulties in receiving their pensions. However, new rules adopted by the Ukrainian government allow payments to be made to accounts at any Ukrainian bank, significantly easing this process.
This is reported by Finway
Currently, annual identification of pensioners and confirmation of non-receipt of pensions from Russia remain mandatory. This issue has become critically important for many citizens, especially those who find themselves in difficult circumstances due to the war.
Main Changes in Pension Payment Rules
The changes in the rules concern several categories of citizens:
- internally displaced persons (IDPs) who received the appropriate certificate before February 24, 2022;
- citizens who left Ukraine after this date;
- individuals residing in temporarily occupied territories.
Previously, payments were mainly made through Oschadbank, but now pensioners have the opportunity to receive funds in accounts at any Ukrainian bank. This innovation provides greater flexibility and convenience, especially for those who are outside the country.
Conditions for Receiving Pensions Under the New Rules
For citizens who have gone abroad or remained in temporarily occupied territories, it is important to undergo annual physical identification by December 31. If this requirement is not met, payments may be temporarily suspended. If a pensioner residing in temporarily occupied territories has not undergone identification for six months, they must carry out at least one financial transaction from their own account to confirm their activity.
Furthermore, to continue receiving a Ukrainian pension, citizens living in temporarily occupied territories or who have left them must confirm that they are not receiving a pension from the Russian Federation. To do this, it is necessary to submit an application to the Pension Fund of Ukraine in any form. This step is crucial, as receiving pensions from Russia may be considered double funding, which contradicts Ukrainian legislation.