How IDPs Can Verify Their Work History for a Pension: Two Available Methods

IDPs who have lost their documents due to the war or occupation can verify their work history to apply for a pension. Find out how to verify your work history through witnesses, what documents the court accepts, and what steps to take to receive a pension

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Internally displaced persons who have lost their documents due to the war, occupation, or hostilities can still verify their work history to apply for a pension. There are currently two main mechanisms in place in Ukraine: through testimony from colleagues or through the courts. Mykhailo Tsymbaliuk, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans’ Rights, stated this in a comment to Ukrinform.

The issue of confirming work history remains one of the most pressing for thousands of Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homes and lost their employment records, archives, or other documents during the war.

How to confirm work history through witnesses?

According to Mykhailo Tsymbaliuk, one of the available options is to confirm work history through testimony from former colleagues.

“Work history, if documents were lost during shelling or under occupation, can be confirmed in two ways. Work history can be confirmed by former colleagues who will provide testimony to the Pension Fund. This will require statements from three people,” he explained.

This applies to situations where a person worked officially but is unable to provide documents due to their loss or the inability to access archives in temporarily occupied territories. In such cases, former colleagues can confirm in writing that the applicant worked at the company. These statements will then be reviewed by the Pension Fund of Ukraine.

Read also: The labor market in Ukraine in 2026 — how have salaries, job openings, and demand changed compared to pre-war 2022?

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Confirming work history through the courts: what do you need to know?

If witnesses cannot be found, the law provides for another mechanism — filing a lawsuit.

“If there are no witnesses at all, citizens can confirm their work experience through a court ruling. The court considers all circumstances and, as a rule, sides with the person who has documents from the company, awards, statements, certificates, etc. And this will be considered as evidence,” noted Tsymbaliuk.

The court may consider any additional evidence of employment: archival records, statements, orders, certificates, awards, certificates from companies, and other documents confirming the fact of employment. In fact, the court evaluates the entire body of evidence and circumstances, after which it makes a decision regarding the recognition of work experience.

Why has the issue of confirming work history become critical for IDPs?

Due to the full-scale war, millions of Ukrainians have lost access to their documents. Some archives remain in the occupied territories, some companies have ceased operations, and documents have been destroyed as a result of shelling. That is why, for many internally displaced persons, proof of work experience has become a key requirement for applying for a pension or recalculating benefits.

In addition, Ukrainians currently living abroad often face the need for legal verification of their documents and social status. In such cases, it may be helpful to consult with immigration lawyers at Visit Ukraine, who assist with documents, social issues, and legal procedures for Ukrainians living outside the country.

We remind you! The digitization of employment record books in Ukraine will be completed in 2026. Read why this is important for Ukrainians with temporary protection in the EU, how to submit documents, and how to preserve your work history.

Photo: senivpetro / Freepik

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