OREANDA-NEWS. October 07, 2010. "Pensions are paid under the new, increased size - the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of Ukraine Vasyl Nadraga said at the press conference in the Cabinet, which was devoted to the regular increase of social standards.

The Minister stressed that the new cost of living per person from October 1, is 861 UAH what is 235 UAH or 38% more than the last year. In this regard, he said, the pension will be recalculated and linked to subsistence payments to poor families, disabled, single mothers and others.

In particular, the minimum pension was increased to 723 UAH, what is 161.6 UAH more than pensioners received last year. Accordingly, minimum pensions for war invalids and participants of war missions would be increased: up to 1 735.20 UAH - for disabled veterans of I group; to 1 554.45 UAH - disabled of the second group, to 1 373.70 UAH - disabled of the third group, to 1 192.95 UAH - for the participants of war missions.

Total pension increase will cover 10.4 million.

Vasyl Nadraga reminded that social payments increase this year takes place gradually, and total expenditures for this is 23.7 billion. That is 7.2 billion or 43,5% more than in 2009 (16.5 bln.).

"I am confident that government will continue this principle of social protection of population increase for the next 2011" - the Minister said.

He also noted that in May and June of this year the Social Security system and the State Labour Pension Fund is already had large-scale payments for January-April this year after revision from January 1, 2010 of all types of state aid.

"We did it in a way that practically no payments was detained for a single day. Employees of all departments of the Ministry of Labour worked very well for the sake of our fellow citizens were able to acquire new dimensions of social payments were in time, as the President promised" - Vasyl Nadraga said.