Preferential Pension for Blasthole Drillers under List No. 1 in Ukraine

The occupation of a blasthole driller belongs to the category of jobs involving harmful and difficult working conditions. Due to the high health risks associated with dust, vibration, noise and continuous underground work, the state provides preferential pension benefits for such workers, namely the right to an old-age pension on preferential terms under List No. 1 of industries, jobs, occupations and positions approved by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 461 dated 24 June 2016.

Underground work provides for a reduction in the retirement age: for men – by 10 years (from 60 to 50 years), and for women – by 10 years (from 55 to 45 years, subject to the applicable transitional provisions). The main requirement is a sufficient preferential service record in mining: at least 10 years for men and 7 years and 6 months for women engaged in underground work. Service under List No. 1 may be calculated on preferential terms: one year of underground work may be credited as 1.5–2 years depending on the specific working conditions (for example, in coal mines – as 2 years).

Pensions for mining workers are granted under the Laws of Ukraine “On Pension Provision” and “On Compulsory State Pension Insurance”. Additional rules apply to the coal mining industry, as pensions for coal industry workers are often associated with mine restructuring and state compensation programmes.

As regards the special service record of blasthole drillers, it is formed exclusively from periods of employment in positions covered by List No. 1. Such service may include:

• Full-time underground work (at least 80% of working time).
• Work in mines, underground mining operations, metro construction or tunnel construction.
• Periods of temporary incapacity for work, leave and off-the-job training, provided that they do not exceed the limits established by law.

However, it should be noted that preferential mining service generally does not include periods of surface work, even where such work is related to mining activities.

In a similar case, a man who had previously worked as a blasthole driller applied to the Pension Fund for an old-age pension on preferential terms and requested that his pension be calculated taking into account periods of work under harmful conditions, namely drilling blastholes in mines. However, his application was refused due to the alleged lack of primary documents confirming the nature of the work performed. The court granted the claim and ordered the Pension Fund to recalculate the preferential service record, grant the pension taking into account the reduced retirement age and pay the corresponding additional amounts. The judgment entered into force, demonstrating the possibility of judicial protection of workers’ rights to preferential pensions in similar circumstances.

How Can a Blasthole Driller Apply for a Preferential Pension?

To apply for a preferential pension, a blasthole driller must submit an application to the relevant territorial office of the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU). The process includes the following steps:

1. Prepare your passport, tax identification number, employment record book, military service document (for men), and a salary certificate for 60 months of employment before 2000 or the relevant salary records for subsequent periods.

2. Obtain a clarifying certificate from the employer (or archive) in the required form, specifying the periods of employment under List No. 1, the occupational code and the relevant working conditions.

3. Submit the application. It may be submitted in person, through the Pension Fund’s online portal, via the Diia portal or by post. The standard consideration period is up to 10 days.

4. If the required service record is confirmed, the pension is granted from the date the person reaches the applicable preferential retirement age or from the date of application, where the application is submitted later.

Documents confirming preferential service are essential. They may include:

1. Documents confirming the termination of an enterprise, institution or organisation as a result of liquidation (including archival documents) – in relation to enterprises, institutions and organisations liquidated before 1 July 2004 and/or where information concerning registration actions is unavailable in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs and Public Organisations (hereinafter – the Unified State Register);

2. An employment record book (if lost – a duplicate employment record book or a certificate issued by an archival institution confirming the dates of employment and dismissal), a civil law agreement, or another document confirming the relevant period of employment.

3. Documents issued by archival institutions, where available, including:

• a salary certificate;
• copies of documents confirming workplace certification;
• copies of documents concerning transfers to other positions, part-time employment or periods of unpaid leave.

4. To confirm periods of employment at enterprises located in temporarily occupied territories, the applicant (or their representative) submits the employment record book and provides in the application information about witnesses (at least two) who worked together with the applicant at the same enterprise, institution or organisation (including a collective farm) and who possess documents confirming their own employment during the period for which they will provide evidence regarding the applicant’s work.

Many blasthole drillers face refusals to grant preferential pensions because of inconsistencies in their employment record books or insufficient supporting documentation. Therefore, it is essential to collect the documents confirming preferential service in a timely manner and understand how to properly apply for a preferential pension as a blasthole driller.

If your application is refused, do not delay: an unlawful refusal by the Pension Fund can be effectively challenged in court. The Pension Center will help you collect evidence confirming employment under List No. 1, prepare a court claim taking into account the case law of the Supreme Court, and seek an actual pension recalculation and payment of the amounts due.

Protect your rights – every year spent working underground deserves to be recognised through a fair pension.