Key Takeaways
- • A widow of a deceased Ukrainian pensioner may switch to a survivor (breadwinner-loss) pension, which is paid at 50% of the deceased's old-age pension if one disabled family member is entitled, or 100% divided equally if two or more are entitled, according to the Pension Fund of Ukraine as reported by Sud.ua.
- • Eligibility requires the widow to have reached retirement age or hold a disability, be a disabled dependent of the deceased, and meet the deceased husband's insurance record requirements.
- • Applications filed within 12 months of the death are paid from the day after death; later applications are paid from the filing date, and applications can be made many years after death.
- • Switching from an existing old-age or disability pension does not guarantee a higher payment, so the PFU should be consulted to compare amounts before applying.
Summary
The amount of a survivor's pension in Ukraine is calculated from the old-age pension the deceased would have received, based on his insurance record and earnings, according to the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU), as reported by Sud.ua. The size of the payment depends on the deceased's pension, the number of disabled family members entitled to it, and compliance with legal requirements.
Entitlement belongs to disabled family members who were dependent on the deceased. A widow may claim the payment if she has reached retirement age or has a disability, and the deceased husband's insurance record is also taken into account. Non-working family members caring for the deceased's child under the age of eight are covered by special conditions.
Where only one disabled family member is entitled, the survivor pension equals 50% of the deceased's old-age pension. Where two or more are entitled, the total payment is 100% of the old-age pension, divided equally among recipients.
A woman already receiving an old-age or disability pension may consider switching to a survivor pension, but the PFU notes that this does not guarantee a higher payment. The report recommends contacting the PFU first to verify eligibility and calculate the potential amount, then comparing it with the current benefit. Applications can be submitted in person at a PFU service center or through the Pension Fund's electronic services web portal.
Timing affects the start date. Applications filed within 12 months of the husband's death are paid from the day after his death; after that period, payments start from the application date. Applications may still be filed years later. For family members who have reached retirement age and meet insurance requirements, the survivor pension is paid for life; in other cases, duration depends on the period of disability.
Entitlement belongs to disabled family members who were dependent on the deceased. A widow may claim the payment if she has reached retirement age or has a disability, and the deceased husband's insurance record is also taken into account. Non-working family members caring for the deceased's child under the age of eight are covered by special conditions.
Where only one disabled family member is entitled, the survivor pension equals 50% of the deceased's old-age pension. Where two or more are entitled, the total payment is 100% of the old-age pension, divided equally among recipients.
A woman already receiving an old-age or disability pension may consider switching to a survivor pension, but the PFU notes that this does not guarantee a higher payment. The report recommends contacting the PFU first to verify eligibility and calculate the potential amount, then comparing it with the current benefit. Applications can be submitted in person at a PFU service center or through the Pension Fund's electronic services web portal.
Timing affects the start date. Applications filed within 12 months of the husband's death are paid from the day after his death; after that period, payments start from the application date. Applications may still be filed years later. For family members who have reached retirement age and meet insurance requirements, the survivor pension is paid for life; in other cases, duration depends on the period of disability.
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