OREANDA-NEWS. October 10, 2011. The first stage of pension reform which has begun on October 1st, will allow to increase payments to the poorest pensioners and to ensure stability in the pension provision of Ukrainians. It was declared by the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Social Policy Sergiy Tigipko during the "Government Question Hour" at the Verkhovna Rada.

"We will have a stable situation in the Pension Fund, we have drastically reduced the budget deficit. It gives warranties that pensions are paid and will be paid in time," the Vice Prime Minister has underlined.

According to Sergiy Tigipko, the implementation of pension reform will allow to reduce the Pension Fund deficit and to start a systematic increase of pensions. "The next year we will raise the average pension by 9.8 percent.  Besides, I am convinced that next year, we need to accumulate funds to help to the poorest pensioners first of all," the official has emphasized.