In Ukraine, in 2026, citizens can independently purchase insurance coverage (pension service years) to retire or increase the amount of their pension. This possibility is provided for by the Law "On Compulsory State Pension Insurance."
Service years can be purchased both for past periods and by paying contributions in advance through voluntary participation in the pension insurance system, reports UNN.
What is insurance coverage and how many years are needed for retirement
Currently, to retire at age 60, one must have at least 33 years of insurance coverage. To retire at 63, between 23 and 33 years of service are required, and at 65 — from 15 to 23 years.
Insurance coverage is the period during which an employer paid contributions to the Pension Fund for a person. it is taken into account when granting a pension and determining its amount.
The following are included in the insurance coverage:
- official employment;
- entrepreneurial activity with payment of the Unified Social Tax (UST);
- military service;
- maternity leave;
- other periods defined by legislation.
If a person worked unofficially or did not pay contributions for a long time, they may face problems accumulating the necessary service years.
Who can buy insurance coverage
The following can buy insurance coverage:
- citizens of Ukraine;
- Ukrainians working abroad;
- persons who are temporarily unemployed;
- people of pre-retirement age who lack a few months or years of service;
- persons working unofficially;
- foreigners and stateless persons permanently residing in Ukraine.
To do this, it is necessary to conclude a voluntary participation agreement with the Pension Fund through the tax service.
A person can pay contributions for themselves or for another person. For example, children can buy service years for their parents.
How much one month of service costs in 2026
The cost of insurance coverage depends on the minimum wage and the amount of the unified social tax.
In 2026, the minimum insurance contribution is 22% of the minimum wage. If the minimum wage remains at 8,647 UAH, the minimum monthly contribution will be 1,902.34 UAH.
This exact amount provides one full month of insurance coverage.
If a person wants to buy service years for past years, the amount will be higher. The law provides for the application of a double coefficient for a lump-sum payment for previous periods.
In fact, one month of service "retroactively" in 2026 costs approximately 3,804 UAH. Therefore, a year of service with current voluntary payment will cost Ukrainians about 22,828 UAH, while a year of service for past periods will cost approximately 45,648 UAH.
The final amount depends on the period for which the service is purchased and the current minimum wage.
How to arrange voluntary payment of contributions
Voluntary payment of contributions can be arranged online through the Pension Fund's electronic services web portal or through the tax service.
To do this, you need to:
- log in using an electronic signature or BankID;
- conclude a voluntary participation agreement;
- specify the period and the person for whom the contributions are being paid;
- make the payment.
After the funds are received, information about the insurance coverage appears in the register of insured persons.
The Pension Fund advises regularly checking your service record through your personal account to timely detect the absence of contributions or errors in the data.
When buying service years can be beneficial
Most often, service years are purchased by people who lack a few months or years to retire at age 60. For example, if a person lacks one year of service, they can either work officially for another year or pay voluntary contributions.
Voluntary payment is also relevant for Ukrainians working abroad who do not pay contributions in Ukraine. In this case, they can independently build up insurance coverage for a Ukrainian pension.
Separately, service years are purchased by entrepreneurs who had gaps in UST payments and people with unofficial employment.
What to consider before buying service years
Experts advise checking your insurance coverage and calculating the feasibility of the costs before arranging voluntary participation.
Buying service years does not guarantee a high pension. The amount of payments depends both on the number of years of service and on the official salary and the amount of contributions paid. Therefore, if a person pays the minimum contribution, it only ensures a minimum level of pension accruals.
It is also worth considering that a lump-sum purchase of service years for past years is significantly more expensive than regular voluntary payment of contributions.
Reminder
Minister of Social Policy Denys Ulyutin stated that a guaranteed pension of 6,000 hryvnias will be available to Ukrainians after a comprehensive pension reform. The bill provides for a guaranteed basic old-age payment that cannot be lower than a certain fixed amount.