In Ukraine, in 2026, traditionally from March 1, a large-scale indexation of pensions will be carried out. The size of the increase is still unknown – the final decision will be made by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers much later. However, the plan was prescribed in the draft State Budget for 2026. This is evidenced by the relevant bill No. 14000, registered in the Verkhovna Rada.
Also, as the Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko clarified:
A total of UAH 1.27 trillion is being allocated for the pension provision of Ukrainians next year;
this is UAH 123.4 billion more than it was for 2025;
the amount takes into account both the Pension Fund’s own revenues and the budget subsidy.
The main thing you need to know
The increase applies only to “bare” pensions – without taking into account allowances and surcharges. This pension amount is increased by a certain coefficient – it will be established by the Cabinet of Ministers.
In a normal situation, the coefficient is determined by adding 50% of inflation over the past year and 50% of the average salary increase over three years, but in martial law, the government has the right to set a slightly lower figure. In 2025, pensions were indexed by 11.5%. Given the projected slowdown in inflation, the indexation coefficient in 2026 may be lower than in 2025. In addition to indexation, in 2026 it is planned to raise the minimum pension by UAH 234, from UAH 2,361 to UAH 2,595.
Whose pensions are not increased by indexation
Pension indexation is provided for by the Law “On General Mandatory State Pension Insurance”. That is, payments will be increased for those who retired according to general rules.
If a pensioner receives a pension in accordance with the Law “On the Prosecutor’s Office” or is a “Chernobyl survivor”, a judge, a military pensioner, etc., then the annual indexation will not affect him. However, the Cabinet of Ministers may increase pensions for these categories by its resolution, but only if there is sufficient budget for this. In addition, the government may establish the minimum and maximum amount of allowances in its resolution.
“New” pensions will also not be increased – indexation should help “modernize” the old ones, so those who have retired in the last few years will not be affected by the recalculation.
Pensions for working pensioners are also indexed separately. For them, the mass increase usually begins a month later, from April 1, and also does not apply to “new” pensions. Pensioners who have continued to work have the right to recalculate payments once every two years. Moreover, such a recalculation may lead to a decrease in the pension.
Pension indexation is a mechanism that allows for partial compensation of the impact of inflation on citizens’ purchasing power. However, it does not guarantee a proportional increase in payments to all categories of pensioners.
