How to Restore a Ukrainian Pension While Living in Israel

The right of Ukrainian citizens to pension benefits is guaranteed by the legislation of Ukraine, including the Law of Ukraine “On Mandatory State Pension Insurance”, other regulatory acts, and applicable international agreements. In practice, however, exercising this right may become complicated when a pensioner permanently relocates to a country with which Ukraine has not concluded a bilateral social security agreement, such as Israel. In such cases, Ukrainian citizens may encounter bureaucratic obstacles, refusals to restore pension payments, or lengthy delays in receiving their pension funds.

The most common difficulties concern the restoration of pension payments and changing the bank account used to receive pension benefits. These matters require the submission of appropriate applications to the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) and, in some cases, additional documents confirming the pensioner's entitlement to receive payments while residing abroad. Nevertheless, the Pension Fund frequently refuses such applications on the grounds that the pensioner did not apply in person.

Court practice demonstrates that, when considering such applications, the Pension Fund of Ukraine often relies on the Procedure for Payment of Pensions and Monetary Assistance through Current Bank Accounts, approved by Resolution No. 1596 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 30 August 1999 (hereinafter – Procedure No. 1596), as the basis for refusing pension payments.

According to paragraph 10 of Procedure No. 1596, an application for pension payment may be submitted to the Pension Fund in one of the following ways:

• personally by the pensioner at a Pension Fund office;
• electronically through the Pension Fund of Ukraine's online services portal using a qualified electronic signature (QES);
• through an authorized bank, provided that the Pension Fund receives the required application for pension payment.

However, it is important to note that an apostilled power of attorney constitutes valid evidence of legal representation. It confirms the authority of the representative to act on behalf of the pensioner and complies with international document authentication standards. Therefore, an application to restore pension payments or change bank account details submitted by an authorized representative under a properly apostilled power of attorney should be considered by the Pension Fund in accordance with the requirements of Procedure No. 22-1.

This conclusion was reached by the Lviv District Administrative Court in its judgment of 2 March 2026 in case No. 380/21476/25 (court decision available at: https://reyestr.court.gov.ua/Review/134508497). The court emphasized that none of the provisions of Procedure No. 22-1 establishes a direct obligation for the pensioner to personally submit an application for pension payments to a bank account.

Discrimination against Ukrainian pensioners residing abroad is unacceptable and contrary to the principles of social protection. Ukrainian citizens living in Israel who are entitled to a Ukrainian pension should be aware that they may restore their pension payments or change the bank account for receiving funds through an authorized representative by submitting the appropriate application to the Pension Fund of Ukraine. If the Pension Fund refuses such an application, the decision may be challenged in accordance with the procedures established by Ukrainian law.

This approach is consistent with the principles of social protection, ensures compliance with Ukrainian pension legislation, and guarantees pensioners an effective legal remedy in cases of unlawful refusal to grant or restore pension payments.