In Ukraine, they want to reduce pensions for officials, - Zholnovych

In Ukraine, they want to reduce pensions for officials, - Zholnovych

Ukrainian high-ranking officials, including prosecutors, may see substantial pension cuts and a ban on early retirement. There are also plans to equalize disability benefits for almost all demographics.

A bill has already been registered in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, which stipulates that all disability payments will be calculated according to general rules, except for payments to military personnel. At the same time, pensions for officials are planned to be reduced and early retirement prohibited. This was announced by the Ukrainian Minister of Social Policy, Oksana Zholnovych, during a presentation of the ministry’s work results on January 27.

During the presentation, the minister touched on many important topics and announced new initiatives. They included initiatives to support families and children, reforms in assistance for temporarily displaced persons, services for people with disabilities, and changes in pension calculations.

What caught the most attention from Ukrainians were the news regarding the ministry’s plans to reduce pensions for officials, including disability pension payments.

"We have already registered the law, which establishes that all disability payments are calculated according to general rules," emphasized Oksana Zholnovych.

The minister explained this decision by stating that disability assistance should not depend on a person’s official status, whether they are a prosecutor or not.

Thus, the main goal of the new bill, developed by the ministry, is to equalize the approaches to determining the size of disability pension payments regardless of a citizen’s status. However, it is worth noting that these changes will not affect combatants: they are provided with separate financial support from the state, which rightly should not be equated with payments for other citizens.

Regarding the restrictions on early retirement for prosecutors and other high-ranking officials, the ministry has placed caps on all pensions exceeding 23,000 hryvnias through a special resolution to regulate this matter. The minister is confident that this decision will ensure fairness in the overall special pension system.