Persons affected by the Chernobyl disaster are entitled to both state and additional pensions.
Old-age pensions for individuals who worked or lived in areas of radioactive contamination are granted with a reduced retirement age. The required length of insurance record is reduced by the same number of years as the retirement age reduction (however, it cannot be less than 15 years in total):
✅ Liquidators of the Chernobyl accident:
The retirement age is reduced by 5, 8, or 10 years, depending on the time and duration of work in the exclusion zone;
If they have work experience in underground jobs or in especially hazardous and difficult conditions (List No. 1):
men — at least 10 years, women — at least 7 years 6 months → retirement age is reduced by an additional 3 years;
If they have work experience in hazardous and difficult conditions (List No. 2):
men — at least 12 years 6 months, women — at least 10 years → retirement age is reduced by an additional 1 year.
✅ Persons affected by the Chernobyl disaster:
The retirement age is reduced by 2 to 10 years, depending on the contamination zone and duration of residence/work;
With qualifying experience under List No. 1:
additional 2-year reduction;
With qualifying experience under List No. 2:
additional 1-year reduction.
📌 Pension amount
The amount of the old-age pension is calculated according to general rules under the Law of Ukraine “On Mandatory State Pension Insurance” and depends on:
the length of insurance record
the individual’s salary level
📌 Disability pensions
Disability pensions are granted to persons whose disability is officially linked to the Chornobyl disaster. The amount is calculated as compensation for actual losses based on:
earnings received while working in the exclusion zone (1986–1990), or
salary calculated from five times the minimum wage (according to a formula).
As of March 1, 2026, minimum disability pension amounts are:
Group I — UAH 11,048.25
Group II — UAH 8,838.60
Group III — UAH 6,813.10
Children with disabilities — UAH 6,813.10
📌 Additional pension
An additional pension is granted depending on the category of the affected person and is paid on top of state pensions:
✅ Category 1:
Liquidators with disabilities:
Group I — UAH 474.5
Group II — UAH 379.6
Group III — UAH 284.7
Other persons with disabilities linked to the disaster:
Group I — UAH 341.64
Group II — UAH 227.76
Group III — UAH 170.82
✅ Categories 2–4:
Category 2 — UAH 170.82
Category 3 — UAH 113.88
Category 4 — UAH 56.94
✅ Children with disabilities and persons with radiation sickness:
UAH 170.82
These provisions ensure social protection and compensation for those whose lives and health were affected by the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster.
Minimum Pension Payments for Chernobyl Liquidators with Disabilities (from March 1, 2026)
The minimum pension payment, regardless of the law under which it was assigned, for persons with disabilities among participants in the liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster cannot be lower than:
for persons with Group I disability — UAH 20,653.55
for persons with Group II disability — UAH 16,522.84
for persons with Group III disability — UAH 12,392.13
🔻 Survivor’s pension
In the event of the death of a breadwinner who belonged to those affected by the Chernobyl disaster, dependent family members are entitled to a survivor’s pension.
▶️ If the deceased breadwinner was a participant in the liquidation of the Chernobyl accident, the survivor’s pension may be calculated based on:
the earnings received for work in the exclusion zone in 1986–1990, or
a salary calculated from five times the minimum wage (according to a formula)
🖥 How to apply
Documents for pension assignment can be submitted online via the web portal of the Pension Fund of Ukraine: https://portal.pfu.gov.ua/.
🎥 A video guide on how to apply for a pension online is available here: https://t1p.de/918ke.