How to Preserve Insurance Record When Transitioning to Electronic Accounting in 2026

After the implementation of electronic accounting for work experience in Ukraine, many citizens have expressed concerns about the potential loss of previously accrued years of work, especially if they are not recorded in the digital register. However, as noted by the Pension Fund of Ukraine, the insurance record itself is not annulled, but confirming specific periods may be problematic in certain situations.

This is reported by AgroReview

Which Work Experience is Automatically Accounted

All records of employment made after January 1, 2004, are already included in the State Register of Insured Persons. Information about contributions is sent to the register directly from employers, so for most modern periods of work, no additional actions are required from employees. This ensures the preservation of data about the insurance record automatically.

Those who worked before 2004 are at the greatest risk of losing confirmation of their work experience. In such cases, periods of work are only recorded in paper employment books. If the document is lost, damaged, or contains errors, proving these periods becomes more complicated.

Problems with Confirming Work Experience and Ways to Resolve Them

The Pension Fund of Ukraine emphasizes: the insurance record does not “expire,” but the process of confirming specific periods may be delayed if:

• the employment book is lost or seriously damaged;
• there are errors in the records or necessary details are missing;
• the company where the person worked has been liquidated, and archival documents have not been fully preserved.

In such cases, it is necessary to contact archival institutions, obtain certificates from the successors of the companies, or undergo additional verifications. This may lead to delays in pension appointments by several weeks or even months.

Digitizing the employment book serves as an effective insurance mechanism, as the electronic version duplicates the paper records and reduces the risk of losing important information in the future.

“The record itself does not ‘expire.’ However, proving specific periods may take longer if the employment book is lost or seriously damaged, there are errors, inaccuracies, or necessary details are missing, the company where the person worked has been liquidated, and archival documents have not been fully preserved.”

Which Work Periods Are Not Counted Towards Insurance Record

Not all periods of employment are automatically counted towards the insurance record. If a citizen worked unofficially, without paying the single social contribution, this time will not be considered when calculating the pension. At the same time, legislation provides exceptions: periods of maternity leave for up to three years, as well as certain periods of receiving social benefits defined by law, may be counted towards the record.

Requirements for Insurance Record for Pension in 2026

According to the current pension reform, in 2026, to retire at 60 years old, one must have at least 33 years of insurance record. If the record is less, the retirement age increases:

• with a record of 23 to 33 years – the right to pension is granted at 63 years;
• with a record of 15 to 23 years – the pension can be received at 65 years.

Thus, the transition to electronic accounting does not deprive citizens of their existing record, but timely digitization of the employment book allows avoiding complicated procedures for confirming work experience, especially for periods before 2004.