On July 8-9, a video circulated on Russian-language Facebook accounts (1, 2, 3), and Instagram, in which a speaker claims that the Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, Oksana Zholnovych, announced reforms in response to the pension crisis. According to the video, persons with disabilities and pensioners under the age of 65 would be required to work.
Minister Oksana Zholnovych has not stated that all pensioners and PWDs will be obligated to work. She clarified that the state reform aimed at the adaptation of PWDs is voluntary, and the state will support those who wish to return to the labor market. Additionally, Ukrainians of retirement age who are willing to continue working will be offered qualification-matching programs to help them reintegrate into the job market.
On June 24, Ukraine’s Social Policy Minister Oksana Zholnovych spoke at the presentation in Kyiv of a study conducted by the agri-industrial holding Astarta-Kyiv and the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine. The study was conducted within the framework of Ukraine’s demographic development strategy and focused on creating conditions for active and healthy aging. The minister emphasized that citizens who have accumulated knowledge and experience throughout their lives should be supported in preserving and applying this potential at any age.
“This is not only an economic issue; it is also about the sense of purpose and belonging in a society that includes rather than excludes based on age. The state must and will partner in this process – by opening opportunities,” said Oksana Zholnovych, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine.
The study notes that by 2035, 28% of Ukraine’s population will be aged over 60, more than 60% of whom will be women. It is important that people maintain an active role in society as long as possible, but preparation for this should begin not at the age of 60 but much earlier – in youth.
The study also highlights that due to the war, migration, and demographic decline, Ukraine’s potential labor force has decreased by 15%, while employment rates fall significantly with age – only 27% of people over 55 remain employed. Therefore, the state must create appropriate conditions to support older adults’ adaptation to the labor market.
On July 8, the Center for Economic Strategy interviewed Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Oksana Zholnovych. During the interview, Zholnovych spoke about the reforms, noting that the state is working to enable persons with disabilities and retirees to adapt to the labor market. According to her, the majority of people who reach retirement age still possess the capacity to remain in the workforce, though they may need to develop digital skills to better meet the labor market demands. She also said that only about 16% of persons with disabilities are employed, even though the vast majority of them are capable of working if supported in their reintegration into the labor market.
Zholnovych stressed that the reform will not apply to people who already have certain statuses. They will retain the existing support. The proposed format is voluntary – individuals may choose to undergo an assessment in order to be better prepared for employment opportunities.
The minister also explained that most of those who have recently acquired disability status [war veterans] are young men and women who want to return to the labor market.
“They want to be part of society. They do not want to stay in their apartments, even if we provide everything for them. They don’t want to be passive participants in society. Their task is to generate their own well-being on their own, to feel this independence and dignity of their own. This is what they fought for,” said Oksana Zholnovych, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine.
- What Legislative Changes Were Introduced in Ukraine?
From January 1, 2025, the status of disability in Ukraine will no longer be determined by the Medical and Social Expert Commissions (МSЕC). Instead, it will be based on the assessment of daily functioning, i.e., the impact of injury or illness on an individual’s ability to perform everyday activities. As Kyivpost reports, the previous system had flaws, allowing many Ukrainians to fraudulently acquire disability status to receive additional pensions or avoid mobilization. The new system is designed to eliminate such corruption. Importantly, the documents issued by the MSEC before January 1, 2025, will remain valid, allowing recipients to continue receiving social guarantees, benefits, pensions, and other payments for the duration of their validity.
Based on an excerpt from the expert team’s decision, PWDs will be eligible to receive (or continue receiving) benefits, pensions, assistance, compensations, and allowances. These excerpts may also be used for purposes specified in the Laws On Military Duty and Military Service, and On Mobilization Preparation and Mobilization.
Additionally, on March 1, 2025, amendments to the Law On Ensuring the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to Work came into force. These aim to create employment conditions for persons who became disabled.
Employers are now required to:
- Provide written reasons for refusing to sign an employment contract or for denying promotion;
- Ensure reasonable accommodation in the workplace at their own expense or using permitted financial sources;
- Create adapted working conditions within four months of being notified that an employee who has become disabled is ready to return to work. If the employer fails to comply, they must compensate the employee for lost income in an amount equivalent to three average monthly wages at the enterprise, up to a maximum of six months.
As of January 1, 2025, amendments to the Law of Ukraine On Mandatory State Pension Insurance also took effect. Under these changes, the right to receive an old-age pension depends on the age – 60, 63, and 65 – and the number of years of insurance experience [mandatory social insurance contributions to the pension fund].
At present, the amount of pension depends on the length of insurance experience. To retire at the age of 60, an individual must have at least 32 years of insurance experience. Those with 22-31 years of insurance experience can retire at 63, while those with 15-21 years will receive a pension only at the age of 65. People with less than 15 years of insurance experience will be eligible not for a pension but for state social assistance.
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