Early Retirement Pension under List No. 1 in Ukraine

Retirement in Ukraine is possible not only on the basis of long service or disability, but also under the preferential List No. 1. This List includes occupations involving particularly harmful and particularly difficult working conditions. Employment under such conditions may entitle a person to an early retirement pension with a reduced retirement age.

According to paragraph 1 of part 2 of Article 114 of the Law of Ukraine “On Compulsory State Pension Insurance”, an old-age pension under preferential conditions may be granted upon reaching the age of 50 and having an insurance record of at least 25 years for men, including at least 10 years of employment in jobs covered by List No. 1, and at least 20 years for women, including at least 7 years and 6 months of employment in jobs covered by List No. 1.

Many people in Ukraine may qualify for retirement at a reduced retirement age. However, even when an applicant has the necessary employment history and supporting documents, the Pension Fund of Ukraine may refuse to grant a pension under List No. 1.

Common grounds for refusal to grant a List No. 1 pension:

1. Absence of workplace certification confirming harmful or particularly difficult working conditions.
2. Absence of information concerning the reorganisation of the employer.
3. Absence of documents confirming a change in the company’s name.
4. Absence of employment and dismissal orders.
5. Absence of a clarifying certificate confirming the nature and conditions of the work performed.

Documents that may be required to apply for a pension under List No. 1:

• passport and taxpayer identification number (RNTRC);
• document confirming education, such as a diploma;
• children’s birth certificates, where applicable;
• marriage certificate, where required to confirm a change of surname;
• employment record book or other documents confirming the applicant’s insurance and employment record;
• a clarifying certificate confirming periods of employment where the employment record book is unavailable or does not contain sufficient information;
• a clarifying certificate from the employer where the occupational title in the employment record book differs from the title specified in List No. 1;
• duly certified copies of employment and dismissal orders, where required;
• an application for pension payments through a bank, if this payment method is selected. A pensioner may generally choose whether to receive pension payments through an authorised bank or another available payment method and may select the relevant banking institution;
• a salary certificate for periods of insurance record before 1 July 2000, where such information is required for the pension calculation;
• documents confirming any special legal status of the applicant, where applicable;
• military service document, where applicable;
• a colour photograph, if required for the relevant pension documentation.

If the Pension Fund of Ukraine has refused to grant you an early retirement pension under List No. 1, you may challenge the refusal. The lawyers of our Pension Center provide professional legal assistance with List No. 1 pension cases. We can review your pension documents, identify missing evidence, assist in obtaining the necessary certificates and archival documents, prepare an application to the Pension Fund and, where necessary, represent your interests in court.