East SOS Continues Its Advocacy to Repeal Discriminatory Provisions: Details of the Verkhovna Rada Committee Hearings on Pension Payments for Internally Displaced Persons
On February 16, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans’ Rights held emergency hearings regarding the administration and verification of pension and social benefit payments, along with the identification of recipients. During the event, Valeriia Dolhoier, a lawyer and advocacy specialist at the East SOS team, joined other representatives of the Coalition of organizations protecting the rights of victims of the russian armed aggression against Ukraine in presenting a set of recommendations prepared ahead of the hearings. These recommendations emphasize the need to repeal discriminatory norms in the pension payment procedures for IDPs, specifically those included in Government Resolution No. 299 and the requirements of the Pension Fund of Ukraine.
In January 2026, hundreds of thousands of pensioners were left without funds because of issues with the Pension Fund’s identification process and the demand for documentation from the russian authorities to prove that no pension is being received there. The committee hearings were held in an open dialogue format between representatives of government agencies, the public sector, and experts. Participants discussed the necessary legislative changes and practical steps to improve the operations of the Pension Fund, specifically regarding the protection of the rights of IDPs, veterans, and persons with disabilities.
In her speech, Valeriia Dolhoier emphasized that even though identification rules have been in place for a long time, the pension provision system remains complicated. She argued that piecemeal legislative changes or individual government resolutions will not solve the problem. She called for a systemic review of the state’s approach to this issue and the harmonization of laws and secondary legislation. Valeriia also emphasized that no two displacement experiences are the same.
“Every day, our team assists evacuees, especially vulnerable groups with reduced mobility. It is clear to us that even providing clear information about pension verification isn’t enough; because many are simply unable to meet the procedural requirements. We are talking about lonely elderly people, those with no relatives to help them, and those cut off from the internet or mobile service. This also includes people with disabilities and residents of communities where no authorized agencies exist to facilitate these processes,’’ Valeriia Dolhoier added.
East SOS continues to speak out against discriminatory rules and stresses that people should not be made responsible for proving circumstances that determine whether their pension is paid, particularly when that pension is often their only means of survival.
You can access the full list of recommendations prepared by the East SOS Charity Foundation and the Coalition of organizations working on the protection of rights for those affected by armed aggression against Ukraine via this link.
The full video recording of the hearings is available here.
Previously, on February 13 in Kyiv, East SOS presented its report on violations of children’s rights during the war.
