The Pension Fund is withholding 222,174 hryvnias in pension payments owed to a woman from her deceased father's account - what was the court's ruling?

Following her father's death, the woman acquired the right to receive the accrued but unpaid pension amounting to 222,174 hryvnias. She is demanding that the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) pay her this amount. This is stated in the decision of the Sloviansk City District Court of Donetsk Oblast, published on February 12, 2025.

After her father's passing, the woman inherited according to the law, as confirmed by the relevant certificate dated September 15, 2021. The inheritance, for which the certificate was issued, includes, among other things, the unreceived pension amounting to 222,174 hryvnias. In a letter dated December 9, 2021, the Main Department of the Pension Fund of Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast acknowledged the existence of a debt for the payment of the amounts due to her; however, the unpaid pension from her father has not yet been disbursed.

"In 2023, in accordance with Order 1165, funds were disbursed to settle the debt within the budget allocations: in July 2023 - 557 hryvnias, in September 2023 - 2,093 hryvnias, in October 2023 - 1,303 hryvnias, in November 2023 - 4.10 hryvnias, and in December 2023 - 0.62 hryvnias. The remaining accrued unpaid pension due to the man's death currently stands at 206,116 hryvnias," - stated the PFU.

What did the court decide? 

The court partially granted the woman's claim. The Main Department of the Pension Fund of Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast will be ordered to pay her the unpaid pension of the deceased father, amounting to 217,684 hryvnias.

"Thus, as the plaintiff's father did not receive a pension of 52,899 hryvnias during his lifetime, which became part of the inheritance, and the plaintiff is his heir who has accepted the inheritance in accordance with the law, the court concludes that the plaintiff, as an heir, has acquired the right to receive the unpaid pension. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the heir is entitled to receive all accrued and unpaid pensions of the testator without any time limitation. Therefore, the defendant should pay the plaintiff the unpaid pension amounting to 217,684 hryvnias. In light of this, the court concludes that the claims should be partially granted," - emphasized the court.