The purpose of this study is to investigate the state of social security in Ukraine and its comparativeanalysis in comparison with European countries, as well as to establish the concept, content, features, andpurpose of this sphere in Ukraine. The methods used to study this subject can be distinguished as follows: dialectical method, formalisation method, law-cognising method, formal legal method, hermeneutical method, logical legal method, systemic, structural-functional method, axiomatic method, methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, etc. The results of this study are the definition and clarification of the characteristics and features of legal regulation of social security in Ukraine; established the list of types of social security in Ukraine. The authors investigated the development of social security in Ukraine since 1990; analysed the development of social security in Europe and identified four main models of social protection through the implementation of social security; identified the main problems in the field of social security as one of the factors of social protection of the population. The authors defined the term “social security”, established the content and features of the national social security system of Ukraine; investigated the development of social security in Ukraine and in European countries.

Highlights

• The provisions set out in this paper are of practical value primarily for authorised persons whose activities are directly aimed at governing the social security system and improving it, as well as for persons whose rights are somehow affected by this area and for those who are insured persons in the system under mandatory state social security.