Pension Rights Between Ukraine and North Macedonia

Most people apply for a pension once they reach the relevant retirement age. This procedure involves collecting and submitting a substantial set of documents confirming employment, insurance periods and other circumstances relevant to pension entitlement. Additional issues may arise where a person has worked not only in Ukraine but also abroad.

Recognition of foreign employment and insurance periods for Ukrainian pension purposes depends on Ukrainian legislation and the international social security framework applicable between Ukraine and the relevant country. Where an international agreement provides for the recognition or aggregation of insurance periods, periods accumulated abroad may be taken into account subject to confirmation by the competent authorities of the foreign state.

Some Ukrainians have worked in North Macedonia. Consequently, questions concerning the recognition of Macedonian employment and insurance periods, pension entitlement and the payment of Ukrainian pensions to people residing in North Macedonia may be particularly important.

Recognition of employment and insurance periods accumulated in North Macedonia for Ukrainian pension purposes depends on the international social security arrangements applicable between Ukraine and North Macedonia. The legislation and international agreements in force at the time of the pension application should therefore be examined to determine whether and under what conditions Macedonian insurance periods may be taken into account in Ukraine.

A separate issue concerns the taxation of pension income. Ukraine and North Macedonia have concluded an international agreement for the avoidance of double taxation. The relevant provisions determine which state has the right to tax pensions and other similar remuneration, depending on the nature and source of the payment and the recipient’s tax status.

Special provisions apply to pensions and other payments connected with government service. Depending on the circumstances, such payments may be taxable in the state in connection with whose government service they are made or in the other contracting state, taking into account factors including the recipient’s residence and nationality.

Another important issue concerns the payment of an already granted Ukrainian pension after a pensioner moves abroad for permanent residence. Ukrainian legislation previously contained provisions under which pension payments to persons permanently residing abroad depended on whether Ukraine had concluded an international pension agreement with the relevant country.

However, in its Decision No. 25-rp/2009 of 7 October 2009, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine declared unconstitutional provisions that made pension payments to persons permanently residing abroad dependent on the existence of such an international agreement. The Court’s position confirmed that the exercise of an acquired pension right cannot be made conditional solely on whether Ukraine has concluded a pension agreement with the pensioner’s country of residence.

Accordingly, permanent residence in North Macedonia should not, by itself, deprive a person of the right to receive an already granted Ukrainian pension. Ukrainian courts have also considered disputes concerning the restoration of pension payments to persons permanently residing abroad and, depending on the circumstances of a particular case, have ordered the Pension Fund of Ukraine to resume such payments.

It is important to distinguish between the recognition of Macedonian insurance periods when determining entitlement to a Ukrainian pension, the taxation of pension income and the right to receive an already granted Ukrainian pension while residing in North Macedonia. These are separate legal issues and may be governed by different provisions of national and international law.

Ukrainians who have worked in North Macedonia should therefore retain documents confirming their employment, earnings and participation in the Macedonian social insurance system. When applying for a pension or arranging pension payments abroad, the legislation and international arrangements applicable at that time should be examined to determine how the relevant foreign insurance periods affect the person’s pension rights.