In Ukraine, people will work longer, and the actual retirement age will increase not necessarily due to a direct increase in the retirement age, but due to increased requirements for insurance experience. This was stated by Ella Libanova, director of the Institute of Demography and Social Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, in a podcast of the Center for Economic Strategy, UNN reports.
Details
According to Libanova, Ukraine, like other European countries, is facing demographic aging, so more and more older people will remain in the labor market.
This is not about a forced decision to immediately raise the retirement age to 70, but about a trend where people will de facto work longer.
The expert also noted that a similar effect can be achieved without directly changing the retirement age if the required insurance period is increased.
What is the situation with pensions in Ukraine in 2026?
Currently, Ukraine has valid age limits for retirement at 60, 63, or 65 years, depending on the amount of insurance experience.
In 2026, to retire at 60, you need to have at least 33 years of insurance experience, at 63 - at least 23 years, and at 65 - at least 15 years.
The Pension Fund also explains that the requirements for experience for retirement at 60 will increase and in 2028 will already be 35 years.
Meanwhile, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Social Policy also previously emphasized that in the absence of the necessary insurance experience, a person is forced to retire later. In particular, in 2028, those who do not have 35 years of experience will not be able to apply for a pension at 60 and will wait until 63, and with even less experience - until 65.
Recall
From April 1, 2026, pensioners with more than two years of experience will have their pensions recalculated. Payments will increase by approximately 200-300 hryvnias only for some individuals.