How to obtain labor veteran status in Ukraine

The status of labor veteran in Ukraine can be obtained not only by people with many years of employment history. The law provides for several categories of citizens who are entitled to it. The status is confirmed by a special “Labor Veteran” certificate, which makes it possible to use the social guarantees provided by law.

Who can apply for the status, where to apply for the certificate, what documents need to be prepared, and what benefits a labor veteran can expect — UNN explains.

Who is entitled to labor veteran status in Ukraine

The main conditions that allow a person to obtain this status are defined by the Law of Ukraine “On the Basic Principles of Social Protection of Labor Veterans and Other Elderly Citizens in Ukraine.” The document states that labor veteran status may be granted to Ukrainians who:

• worked at enterprises, institutions, organizations, associations of citizens, or for private individuals;

• retired;

• have the required employment record (at least 40 years for men and 35 years for women).

At the same time, labor veteran status in Ukraine may be obtained by citizens who have been granted a pension on preferential terms for work in particularly hazardous, particularly arduous, hazardous, or arduous conditions. For workers under List No. 1 (those who worked underground or in jobs with particularly hazardous and particularly arduous working conditions), the required employment record is at least 25 years for women and 30 years for men. For workers under List No. 2 (those who performed their duties in jobs with hazardous and arduous working conditions), it is at least 30 years for women and 35 years for men.

Pensioners awarded the “Labor Veteran” medal in accordance with the legislation of the former USSR are also recognized as labor veterans.

Another category is persons with Group I and Group II disabilities who receive a disability pension. For them, the required employment record is at least 15 years.

The employment record required to establish labor veteran status is calculated in accordance with the procedure provided for by the legislation on mandatory state pension insurance.

What documents are required to obtain the status

The procedure for issuing the certificate is established by Resolution No. 521 of the Cabinet of Ministers dated July 29, 1994.

To obtain “Labor Veteran” status, one must first submit an application for its issuance and a 30×40 mm photograph. A Ukrainian citizen’s passport or a temporary Ukrainian citizen’s identity document must also be presented.

Information about a person’s insurance and employment record is verified using data from the Pension Fund. If the person’s registered or declared place of residence is located in the territory of another administrative-territorial unit, information from the PFU on the calculation of the employment record must be attached to the application.

It should be noted that the list of documents specified in the information cards of administrative service centers may be broader than the list set out in laws and subordinate regulations. Depending on the grounds for obtaining the status, the following may be required:

• a PFU certificate confirming the total employment record;

• RNOKPP;

• pension certificate;

• disability document;

• certificate accompanying the “Labor Veteran” medal.

Therefore, before applying to a specific administrative service center, it is advisable to check its service information card. This will help avoid a repeat visit because of the absence of a document required specifically for the particular grounds for obtaining the status.

A certificate confirming the available employment record can, if necessary, be obtained from Pension Fund offices. Information about the employment record is also available through the PFU electronic services web portal.

Where to apply for the certificate

The application and documents are submitted to the social protection authority. This includes, in particular, structural subdivisions responsible for social protection within district state administrations, as well as executive bodies of city councils and district councils in cities.

In many communities, the process is available through administrative service centers. The administrative service center itself may accept the documents and issue the completed certificate.

The "Labor Veteran" certificate is an official document confirming its holder's status and entitlement to the relevant benefits and compensations. The decision to issue the certificate or refuse to issue it is made within one month. The period begins on the day the person submits an application together with the necessary documents to the social protection authority.

The certificate itself and the "Labor Veteran" lapel badge are issued free of charge. The document may be collected personally by the labor veteran or, at their request, by a relative or another person.

If the certificate is lost or becomes unfit for use, a new document will be issued to the labor veteran upon application.

What benefits and supplements are provided for labor veterans

The law provides labor veterans with a number of social guarantees. At the same time, it is important to distinguish between labor veteran status and entitlement to an increased pension: the law does not establish an automatic separate monthly supplement to a pension solely on the basis of having "Labor Veteran" status.

In particular, after retirement or a change of workplace, labor veterans have the right to continue using the clinics to which they were attached at their previous place of employment.

Priority free dental prosthetics are also provided, except for prosthetics made of precious metals. However, this benefit depends on income: the average monthly total family income per person for the previous six months must not exceed the amount established by law that confers entitlement to a tax social benefit.

Other guarantees include a preferential right to sanatorium-resort treatment and compensation for the cost of independently arranged sanatorium-resort treatment in accordance with the procedure determined by the state.

Labor veterans are also entitled to an annual medical examination involving the necessary specialists, priority service at healthcare facilities and pharmacies, as well as priority hospitalization.

For labor veterans who continue working, the law provides for the possibility of taking annual leave at a convenient time and receiving additional unpaid leave for up to two weeks per year.

The law also establishes a number of preferential rights in the housing and land spheres. These include priority provision of housing for persons who need improved housing conditions, priority housing repairs and provision of fuel, a preferential right to join gardening and garage cooperatives, and the installation of a home telephone.

Separate provision is made for exemption from land fees in accordance with the law.

At the same time, the specific scope of available support should be checked at the place of residence. Local self-government bodies may introduce their own social protection programs and additional payments for certain categories of the population. Therefore, the availability or amount of local assistance may vary depending on the community.

The regular status of a labor veteran should also not be confused with the status of a person who has special labor заслуги to the Motherland. For the latter category, the legislation establishes a separate, considerably broader package of social guarantees.

Typical reasons for refusing to grant labor veteran status

The main reason for refusal is insufficient employment record. If the applicant does not belong to special categories for which other requirements are provided, they must confirm at least 40 years of employment record for men or 35 years for women.

The second fundamental condition under the general rule is retirement. That is, a person who has already accumulated the required 35 or 40 years of employment record but is not yet a pensioner does not automatically receive the status solely because of the length of their employment.

The current procedure also expressly provides for the possibility of refusal if verification reveals inaccurate information stated in the application or if information necessary for issuing the certificate is missing.

Problems may also arise because of incomplete employment-record data in the Pension Fund register. This particularly concerns periods of employment before the introduction of personalized records. If certain years of employment have not been counted, it may first be necessary to confirm them with documents and update the information about the employment record.

If the social protection authority refuses to issue the certificate, its decision may be challenged in court.

We remind you

Let us remind you: In 2027, women will need to have at least 34 years of insurance coverage to retire at age 60. The length-of-service requirements increase every year and will reach 35 years by 2028.