How to Count Childcare Time Towards Pension Service: Explanation and List of Documents

The period of caring for a young child can be important for a future pension. Legislation provides for counting such time both towards insurance service and, under certain conditions, towards preferential service, which affects the right to retire under preferential conditions. At the same time, the procedure for confirming this period depends on when exactly the person cared for the child, whether they were employed, and what documents they can provide to the Pension Fund. We explain when childcare time is counted towards service and what confirmations are required.

When childcare time is counted towards insurance service

According to current legislation, the time a non-working mother cares for young children, but no longer than until each child reaches three years of age, is counted towards insurance service.

If a person was employed by an enterprise, institution, or organization and was on leave to care for a child until the child reached three years of age, this period is also included in the total insurance service.

Since January 1, 2004, the Law of Ukraine "On Compulsory State Pension Insurance" No. 1058-IV has been in effect. Since then, the insurance service includes the period during which a person was subject to compulsory state pension insurance and for which monthly insurance contributions were paid in an amount not less than the minimum insurance contribution.

According to Article 11 of this law, persons subject to compulsory state pension insurance include those who care for a child until the child reaches three years of age and receive payments provided by law in connection with the birth or adoption of a child.

Changes regarding insurance service effective from 2026

From January 1, 2026, amendments were made to Article 11 of Law No. 1058-IV.

Now, compulsory state pension insurance applies to:

• persons who care for a child until the child reaches one year of age and receive childcare allowance up to one year and/or birth or adoption benefits;
• persons on leave to care for a child up to three years of age;
• non-working persons who care for a child aged from one to three years.

Documents confirming childcare for service crediting

The procedure for submitting and processing documents for pension assignment or recalculation defines the list of documents necessary to confirm such a period.

In particular, the childcare period in 2004 by a non-working person is confirmed by:

• a certificate from social protection authorities about receiving or not receiving the relevant allowance;
• the child's birth certificate.

The period of maternity and childbirth leave from January 1, 2004, to June 30, 2013, inclusive, is confirmed by:

• the child's birth certificate;
• an order granting leave to care for a child until the child reaches three years of age;
• individual records about the insured person.

Thus:

• for the period before December 31, 2003, childcare time for each child up to three years is credited based on the child's birth certificate or passport;
• in 2004, this period is confirmed by a certificate from social protection authorities and the birth certificate;
• after 2004, crediting is done based on relevant data in the individual records of the insured person.

Is childcare leave counted towards work experience in the specialty

Article 181 of the Labor Code of Ukraine provides that leave to care for a child until the child reaches three years of age is counted both towards total work experience and work experience in the specialty.

Additionally, the period a woman spends on paid leave to care for a child up to three years, as well as leave to care for a child up to six years, is included in the work experience in the specialty for the position she holds.

Is childcare time included in preferential service

When determining the right to a pension under preferential conditions, the childcare period is also taken into account.

The acquired service that gives the right to preferential pension provision is confirmed by entries in the employment record book and clarifying certificates issued based on primary documents by enterprises, institutions, organizations, or their successors according to paragraph 20 of the Procedure for Confirming Existing Work Experience for Pension Assignment, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No. 637.

To confirm preferential service, a certificate in the form approved by Appendix 5 to this Procedure is submitted.

Therefore, subject to proper documentary confirmation, the time spent on leave to care for a child until the child reaches three and six years of age is counted towards preferential service, which is considered when determining the right to a pension under preferential conditions.

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