Pensions for families of fallen soldiers: who can receive them and what amounts are guaranteed by the state

Families of deceased Ukrainian servicemen are entitled to a pension in connection with the loss of a breadwinner and additional payments provided by the state. The amount of the benefit depends on the circumstances of the death of the defender, his or her financial security, and the number of family members who are entitled to payments.

At the same time, a guaranteed minimum amount is established for such pensions. If the calculated pension turns out to be lower, the state pays the difference.

What minimum payments do families receive

The amount of the guaranteed payment depends on the number of family members to whom the pension is assigned.

The minimum amounts are:

12,810 hryvnias per month — if one family member receives a pension;

10,020 hryvnias per month for each — if two or more family members are entitled to payment.

That is, if the amount of the pension calculated according to the general rules is lower than the established minimum, an appropriate additional payment must be added to it.

Who is entitled to a pension

A survivor’s pension is provided for disabled family members of a serviceman who were dependent on him.

Separate rules apply to children. Minor children may be granted a payment regardless of whether they were actually dependent on the deceased.

Additional guarantees are provided for the closest family members. In particular, the guaranteed minimum for parents, husband or wife is determined separately and should not be reduced due to the presence of other recipients in the family.

The corresponding guarantees also apply to children who have the status of a family member of the deceased, as well as, in cases provided for by law, to the families of missing servicemen.

70%, 50% or 30%: how the pension amount is determined

The amount of the pension depends primarily on the circumstances of the death of the serviceman.

If a serviceman died while serving or died as a result of a wound, contusion or illness related to the defense of Ukraine, payments are calculated based on his financial security.

In particular:

70% of the financial security – if one family member is entitled to a pension;

50% of the financial security – if there are two or more recipients;

30% of the financial security – in certain cases when the death of a serviceman was not directly related to the performance of combat missions.

In this case, the actual amount of the payment should not be lower than the guaranteed level established by the state.

Where to apply for registration

To assign a pension in connection with the loss of a breadwinner, primary documents are submitted through the relevant department or structure in which the deceased serviceman served.

After registration of the pension case, the Pension Fund of Ukraine makes the calculation.

Do I need to apply for a supplement

The Pension Fund should automatically make a supplement to the established minimum level based on the information already contained in the pension file.

That is, the family does not need to separately apply for such a recalculation or re-collect the entire package of documents.

Minimum payments will be indexed

The current guaranteed amounts should not remain unchanged. It is planned that from 2027 they will be reviewed annually from March 1 during the general indexation of pensions.

Thus, the state establishes not only the minimum level of financial support for the families of deceased defenders, but also the mechanism for its further revision.