Peculiarities of the functioning of the social insurance fund during wartime

Abstract

The paper focuses on the transformation of Ukraine’s social insurance system under the conditions of full-scale war, particularly the institutional reorganization involving the dissolution of the Social Insurance Fund of Ukraine and the transfer of its functions to the Pension Fund of Ukraine. New target groups of beneficiaries are identified, regulatory inconsistencies in insurance provision are analyzed, and directions for improving social insurance mechanisms are substantiated, considering their significance as a key component of state social policy during armed conflict. The purpose of the article is to analyze institutional and functional changes in the organization of social insurance in Ukraine under martial law and to justify strategic directions for its further development. The study employs general scientific methods of cognition: analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, comparison, generalization, and a systems approach. The findings show that, in response to wartime challenges, the social insurance system has maintained the continuity of material provision and insurance payments, while adapting organizational and technical mechanisms to crisis management conditions. The expansion of insured persons - including internally displaced persons, military personnel, veterans, and individuals affected by hostilities - has necessitated regulatory, financial, and digital adjustments. Particular attention is given to the digitalization of procedures, especially the introduction of electronic services to improve accessibility, as well as the development of cooperation with international partners. It is proven that the transfer of functions from the Social Insurance Fund to the Pension Fund of Ukraine facilitated the centralization of the social protection system, improved administrative efficiency, and enhanced institutional capacity in delivering insurance guarantees. In the medium term, the system requires further development based on the principles of targeting, transparency, social justice, and technological modernization. The practical significance of the study lies in formulating proposals for improving the functioning of social insurance during wartime and the post-war recovery period, within the framework of a new institutional model based on the Pension Fund of Ukraine.