In Ukraine, cases have become more frequent when the Pension Fund first assigns a person a pension, and then not only cancels its payment, but also demands the return of the funds already received. Lawyers point to serious violations on the part of PFU officials.
The portal “Yuristy.ua” published a complaint from a citizen whose father, born in 1962, reached retirement age in January 2025 — 63 years old — and had 22 years of experience, that is, met the requirements for the assignment of payments. However, the local department of the Pension Fund initially refused to even accept documents, and later — after the pension was issued — canceled it without explanation. Subsequently, the applicant received a letter demanding the return of the amount already received.
According to lawyers, the situation is serious: under current legislation in 2025, persons who have reached 63 years of age and have at least 22 years of experience are entitled to an old-age pension. In the case of the applicant’s father, even without the disputed period in the inter-school combine, the length of service was sufficient.
Experts emphasize: an oral refusal to accept documents is a violation. Any decision to refuse must be provided in writing with an explanation of the reasons, a reference to the relevant law and the procedure for appealing.
It is also emphasized that if the citizen did not provide unreliable data, the demand for a refund is illegal.
Lawyers recommend that in such cases, file complaints with the top management of the PFU, demand the renewal of payments and an official recalculation of the insurance period. If the appeal does not yield results, go to court.
