While most Ukrainians are preparing for their “minimum wage” to increase next year, the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) has published updated pension amounts, which are unlikely to inspire much optimism: the average payment in the country has increased by only UAH 26 since the beginning of the year.
Such data is provided by Ukrinform with reference to the PFU.
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In particular, it is said that in Ukraine from June to October the average pension increased by only 26.6 UAH and amounted to 6,436.79 UAH. Traditionally, the highest average pension is in Kyiv (8848.19), and the lowest is in Ternopil region (4996.69 UAH).
At the same time, the average pension of a retired judge (lifetime cash support) is UAH 109,898.29. As of June, it is UAH 109,311.80. So while the average pension in the country has increased by UAH 26.6, judges' pensions have increased by UAH 586.49 on average. If we consider only those pensioners who retired by age (excluding pensions for long service), the average payment has increased by UAH 15.37 since June to UAH 6,118.51.
How pensions have increased since the beginning of 2025
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If we compare the dynamics of changes in the size of the pension since the beginning of the year, the figures will be much better. In March, a planned annual indexation was carried out, which allowed to increase the average payment by approximately UAH 552 (an increase from January to April). This is reported by the Obozrevatel publication.
In 2025 (as of January), the average pension was UAH 5,789, while now it is UAH 6,436.79.
What will pensions be like in 2026: bad and good news
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We should also note that the minimum pension is planned to be increased by 9.9% next year – to UAH 2,595. The fact of increasing the subsistence minimum (and at the same time the minimum pension) is positive news. After all, the Budget Declaration (its previous version) provided that social standards could be frozen in both 2026 and 2027.
At the same time, the bad news is that this increase is not enough. In 2024, prices increased by 12%, in 2025 – by 9.7% (forecast), while in 2026 prices may increase by 9.9%. That is, in three years the cumulative inflation rate will be 31.6%. While from January 2024 to the end of 2026, the minimum pension will increase by only 9.9%.
This will inevitably lead to a significant increase in poverty among pensioners. The draft budget for 2026 provides for expenditures for the Pension Fund in the amount of UAH 251.3 billion. This is UAH 14.3 billion more than last year.
At the same time, it is generally provided for:
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- increasing the minimum and maximum pension;
- increase in seniority allowance;
- March pension indexation;
- extension of the restriction on pensions whose amount is more than 10 subsistence minimums.
The most significant recalculation is expected in March. This is the traditional annual indexation of pensions. The size of this calculation will become known only in February, as it depends on statistical indicators for the current year. As a reminder, within the framework of indexation, the pension amount calculated by the formula (without allowances) is increased by a certain percentage.
We also recall that earlier the Pension Fund named two indicators that affect pension increases.
