How pensioners can avoid losing money: physical identification 2026

Kira Aronova
Kira Aronova Journalist
How pensioners can avoid losing money: physical identification 2026
pension, money, stock photo
From 1 April 2026, some Ukrainian pensioners risk losing their pension payments if they fail to undergo mandatory in-person identification. This requirement applies to those who are abroad or living in temporarily occupied territories

This was announced by the Minister for Social Policy, Denis Ulyutin

Physical identification is a procedure for verifying a person’s identity based on verified documents. Pensioners and recipients of insurance benefits who are outside Ukraine or in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) are required to undergo this procedure by 31 December of each calendar year.

There are several ways to undergo identification:

Online: via the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) e-services portal using ‘Diya.Sign’ (KEP).

Video conference: a video call with a PFU employee following a prior application. Applications can be submitted via the web portal or the contact centre on the following numbers: 0 800 503 753, (044) 281-08-70, (044) 281-08-71.

Diplomatic missions: obtaining a document confirming that the person is alive at a Ukrainian consulate or embassy abroad. The document, together with the application for the continuation of payments, is sent to the PFU by post or electronica.

In-person visit: apply to a PFU service centre or the bank through which payments are made, in territory controlled by Ukraine.

For residents of the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) or those who have left the occupied regions, the payment of pensions and insurance benefits is subject to the condition that they do not receive similar payments from the Russian Federation. You can report that you have not received funds from Russia in person, via video identification, or via the PFU web portal in the ‘Remote Information’ section.

According to data from January 2026, the average pension in Ukraine is 6,544 hryvnias, which is 13% higher than last year. However, 63,000 citizens receive amounts below the subsistence minimum, and 261,000 pensioners receive a payment of 2,361 hryvnias.

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