Pension fund delays payments: increase may go unnoticed

The process of pension allocation in Ukraine may seem straightforward at first glance; however, in practice, it raises numerous questions.

This is especially true in situations where the first payments have to be waited for months, not weeks. For example, Yuriy Petrenko received a notification of the pension allocation in December 2008, based on an application submitted on November 20. However, the first payment of UAH 3,530.54 was received only in January 2009. Formally, all actions comply with the law, according to which the payment must be made within a month after the decision is made.

At the same time, there is a question: did the pension institution have the right to decide on the pension 25 days after the application is submitted? The justification can be found in the legislation: the standard decision period is 10 days, with the possibility of an extension of up to 15 days if necessary to verify documents. This is what the Pension Fund relies on in such situations.

So, legally, everything was done correctly; however, the delay in making a decision raises ethical concerns because the pensioner was left without financial support despite being entitled to it earlier.

This situation once again confirms that, despite the clarity of the laws, people often encounter numerous difficulties in the practical work of social institutions. It is important to note that the state cannot ensure the ideal functionality of social services, and this is partly a consequence of the Russian aggression that began in 2014 when Ukraine began to recover after the collapse of the USSR. Resources were redirected from defense to development.

Therefore, if you have questions about your pension, do not hesitate to ask and check the actions of the relevant institutions. This is your legal right.

Previously, we reported that Ukrainians may need to file court appeals to increase their pensions in 2025, as well as the details of pension indexation, which will not affect all categories of citizens. Recall that increased pensions for retirees are planned for May.