Pension recalculation will take place, but without an increase: who will receive nothing in 2026

From January 1, 2026, changes to the pension system in Ukraine are planned, but not all pensioners can expect significant improvements. According to lawyer Mykhailo Vulakh, most payments will remain unchanged, and for some pensioners, even a decrease in income is possible.

At the beginning of the new year, the old rules regarding minimum pensions for people over 70 remain in place. For this age category, the guaranteed minimum is 3,258 hryvnias; for those aged 80, it is 3,758 hryvnias. This means that, despite the increase in the subsistence minimum, pensions for these categories are not updated. In some cases, a 70-year-old pensioner may receive less than a 65-year-old with full work experience.

The maximum pension limit has also not changed, remaining at 25,950 hryvnias (ten subsistence minimums). For working pensioners, no innovations are provided; all previous restrictions remain in force.

You should not expect an increase in age-related allowances: for 70–74 years, the payment is 300 hryvnias, for 75–79 years — 456 hryvnias, and for pensioners who have reached 80 years — 570 hryvnias. These amounts have not increased for several years and are gradually losing their value due to inflation. In addition, the allowance is paid only to those whose pension does not exceed 10,340 hryvnias, although average salaries have changed.

Another critical topic is the identification of pensioners abroad, internally displaced persons, or those who have not passed the confirmation procedure by the end of 2025; from the new year, pension payments to them will be stopped.

These changes cause concern and indignation among pensioners, as real support for their financial situation remains low despite formal updates.