How to get a full pension if you don’t have enough insurance experience

In Ukraine, citizens who do not have sufficient insurance experience to retire can compensate for the lack of it on their own. In this case, instead of social assistance, there is an opportunity to receive a full pension in accordance with the requirements of the law.

In 2026, to retire, it is necessary to have at least 33 years of experience at the age of 60, 23 years – at the age of 63 and more than 15 years – at the age of 65. If these indicators are not achieved, the person is assigned only a social pension, the amount of which is about 2,595 UAH and may be even less.

At the same time, the law provides for the possibility of voluntary participation in the pension system. Citizens can pay contributions to the Pension Fund of Ukraine to “buy up” the necessary experience. In 2026, the minimum contribution is about 1,902 UAH per month, which allows counting the corresponding period as insurance experience.

In addition, Ukrainians have the right to confirm previously acquired, but not credited, experience. This can be done using archival documents, certificates from the place of work or, in their absence, in court with evidence of employment.

Voluntary contributions can be made online through a personal account on the Pension Fund portal using an electronic signature. There, a voluntary participation agreement is concluded and payment is made.

Thus, even in the absence of the required experience, citizens have the tools to receive a full pension, but this requires timely action and financial costs.