After 2014, the term internally displaced person became part of Ukraine’s reality. Along with it came the issue of pension records left in non-government-controlled areas. At that time, the pension system was not yet digital, and most documents existed only on paper. Ten years later, Ukraine has completed the digitalization of pension files, ensuring the continuity of payments even during the most challenging periods of the war.
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Digitalization as the Foundation of System Resilience
Following 2014, the Pension Fund of Ukraine launched large-scale digitalization efforts, creating electronic pension files and databases containing employment history, earnings, and individual accruals. This process was completed in 2024. The digital system enabled the continuation of pension payments in 2022, even when many regions were under occupation or active shelling.
Pensions in Ukraine are paid in two ways — through Ukrposhta (the national postal service) or authorized banks. When the full-scale invasion began, the government adopted Resolution No. 450-С, which guaranteed uninterrupted payments to residents of temporarily occupied territories.
How the System Works in Occupied Areas
Under the law, if a pensioner does not receive payments for six consecutive months, their pension is suspended. To prevent this, in 2022 all pensions previously paid through postal delivery were temporarily transferred to Oschadbank accounts. The state bank opened these accounts at the request of the Pension Fund, even without the pensioner’s direct involvement.
If a pensioner was able to contact the bank — in person or remotely — they could sign an agreement and access their funds. Those remaining in occupied areas often lacked such an opportunity, and after six months, the unused funds were returned to the Pension Fund.
In April 2023, payments that had been inactive for a long period were temporarily suspended. However, Resolution No. 162 allowed residents of occupied territories to apply remotely — via the Pension Fund’s online portal using an electronic signature or video identification. Those who had not received payments since 2022 were reinstated in full after verification.
Remote Identification — A New Level of Accessibility
Gradually, banks introduced remote identification, allowing people in temporarily occupied territories to open accounts and receive payments. Pensioners can now submit applications online through their personal account on the Pension Fund portal, indicating the bank and account number of their choice.
Since spring 2022, remote submission has become available not only for internally displaced persons but for all pensioners. This allows them to change their bank or account at any time without visiting institutions in person.
How Pension Eligibility Is Verified
During the COVID-19 quarantine in 2020, a moratorium was introduced on suspending payments due to the inability to undergo in-person identification. After the quarantine ended, another issue emerged: the Pension Fund lacked reliable data on some recipients — whether they were alive, their current location, or if they had moved abroad.
In summer 2023, a large-scale identification campaign for internally displaced persons began. It could be completed remotely, without visiting Pension Fund offices or banks. Those who did not complete identification by April 2024 risked temporary suspension of payments.
Control of Pensions Abroad and in Occupied Territories
New regulations adopted under Resolution No. 299 classified pensioners into three categories: residents of temporarily occupied territories, those who moved to government-controlled regions, and persons temporarily residing abroad.
For the latter group, mandatory in-person identification must be completed by the end of each year to continue receiving payments the following year. The regulation also establishes that payments to pensioners abroad are made exclusively through banks, not postal services.
Recipients must also confirm that they are not receiving equivalent pension benefits from Russian authorities. This requirement became mandatory after amendments to the Law of Ukraine on Compulsory State Pension Insurance.
How the State Repays Pension Arrears
For those unable to receive their pensions earlier — including internally displaced persons — arrears are repaid under the procedure established by Resolution No. 1165. Each year, the Pension Fund’s budget allocates funds for these repayments. While previously this amounted to around 250 million hryvnias annually, the figure has now risen to about 1 billion.
In 2025, the first portion of arrears was paid in October, with the second scheduled for December. The sums are distributed proportionally among all eligible recipients.
Moving Toward Full Transparency
Ukraine’s modern pension system is no longer dependent on a person’s place of residence or paper documents. Remote identification, digital pension files, and a unified electronic database ensure the continuity of payments even under extraordinary conditions. This marks a step toward a resilient, transparent, and adaptive social system that remains reliable for all citizens — no matter where they currently live.
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