The Rada has passed a law on new rules for verifying length of service for pension purposes: details
The Verkhovna Rada announced the adoption of the law, whilst the Pension Fund separately reminded stakeholders of the 10 June 2026 deadline for transferring data from paper employment record books to the Register of Insured Persons.
On 9 April, parliament passed Bill No. 13705-d on the confirmation of insurance periods in its second reading and as a whole. The Rada explained that the changes are needed primarily for people who have lost documents due to the liquidation of enterprises, the destruction of archives, occupation or other circumstances that make it difficult to confirm their insurance periods through standard channels.
One of the main innovations is that the Pension Fund will no longer be able to simply state “no data available”. If state systems lack the information required to award or recalculate a pension, the local Pension Fund office must inform the individual of this and explain exactly what additional documents need to be submitted, if such documents exist.
The law also introduces a broader range of methods for confirming employment history. If there is no employment record book or if it lacks the necessary entries, employment history may be established using other documents from the place of work, service or study, archival certificates, and in certain cases — in accordance with a procedure determined by the government or through the courts. Furthermore, for periods prior to the introduction of personalised record-keeping, it is permitted to use information from state registers and electronic databases, provided they contain the necessary details regarding employment, salary or the payment of contributions.
Another important change concerns periods of employment for which the employer has not paid contributions. The Council explains that such periods may be counted towards the insurance record for determining pension entitlement if the employer has a debt but has nevertheless submitted reports on the accrual of social security contributions at least at the level of the minimum insurance contribution. This is one of the most significant provisions, as it partially mitigates the risk where a person was formally employed but could have lost their service record due to the employer’s issues.
It is worth noting that this law should not be confused with the issue of electronic employment record books, although for people these are often one and the same. The Pension Fund reminds us that by 10 June 2026, data from paper employment record books must be entered into the Register of Insured Persons. If the record is held by the employer, it is their responsibility to ensure the data is scanned and transferred; if the document is in the employee’s possession, they can upload the scans themselves via the Pension Fund’s web portal. Once digitisation is complete or after 10 June 2026, the paper employment record book will be handed over to the employee against signature.
However, the digitisation deadline does not mean an automatic loss of service record after 10 June. This marks the end of the five-year transition period to the electronic employment record book, which began following Law No. 1217-IX in 2021. This is precisely why the new law on confirming length of service and the completion of the digitisation of employment record books effectively converge at a single point: the state is simultaneously digitising records and attempting to close loopholes for those whose documents are lost or incomplete.
The adopted law still has to undergo the final signing procedure. But the logic behind the changes is already clear: the aim is to tie pension entitlement less to physical records and more to the ability to confirm actual service through documents, registers and official procedures, should there be gaps in the system.
As a reminder, on 9 April 2026, the Verkhovna Rada adopted, in its second reading and as a whole, a law simplifying the process of confirming insurance record. It is intended to ensure the realisation of Ukrainians’ right to adequate pension provision.
