Retirement Age in Ukraine - What Changes May Await Citizens.

The Verkhovna Rada is considering changes to pension legislation, specifically regarding the gradual increase of the retirement age. There are plans to make exceptions for certain women and allow them to retire a bit earlier.

The Committee on Social Policy has reviewed bill No. 5566, which provides for an increase in retirement age and benefits for mothers who raised children up to 6 years old.

• An increase in retirement age from 60 to 61 years over 12 years.
• Benefits for mothers may reduce the retirement age by 6 months for each child, but not more than 3 years.

However, it is worth noting that even with these benefits, women with one child will have to retire at 60.5 years, which hardly changes anything. It should also be noted that women with 5 or more children can already retire at 50 years old.

Why is there a proposal to change anything at all?

The explanation for the bill points to the aim of supporting birth rates, but the small benefits may have little impact on this figure, especially in the conditions of an economic crisis. Some experts believe that under the guise of caring for mothers, the authorities aim to raise the retirement age for all.

What does the alternative bill propose?

The second version of the bill mentions only benefits for mothers, without any mention of increasing the retirement age. This could be an attempt by the deputy to emphasize her support for women and earn political points, but whether the Rada will support this option is an open question.

According to the memorandum with the IMF, Ukraine should not introduce new pension benefits or lower the retirement age. Therefore, the proposed bills may only be a political game, rather than a real reform intended to solve problems.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is considering changes to pension legislation, including raising the retirement age and providing benefits to mothers. Some experts emphasize that the proposed initiatives may have a limited impact on the situation with birth rates and the country's pension system.