The coalition agreement of the winning government coalition included a circumstantial evidence suggesting the planned crucial changes to the pension strategy in this context, peculiarly concerning the alleged widow's pension. Despite the deficiency of specifics about the date of the changes or their scale, there are many signals indicating their possible arrival. What can we anticipate in the context of these possible changes?
The widow's pension – who wanted to introduce it?
The thought of changes in the alleged widow's pension has been discussed for any time and has reappeared in the context of the creation of a coalition agreement between the Civic Coalition, the 3rd Road and the fresh Left.
The coalition agreement states that decent surviving conditions should be ensured for pensioners and pension recipients. It commits to introducing solutions that will, on the 1 hand, increase the social activity of older people and, on the another hand, warrant a dignified life for older people after the death of their life partner. 1 component of this imagination is the change in the widow’s pension system.
What principles would it function on? And what is now called widow’s pension?
The current widow’s pension – what are the principles?
Currently, the widow’s pension strategy operates according to rules that fewer would consider beneficial to the elderly. Why? The main reason is that receiving a widow’s pension involves conditions that require certain age criteria. Specifically, it is essential for a widow or widower to scope the age above 50 at the time of death of the spouse. Of course, there are certain exceptions, specified as the situation where this individual is incapable to work or is the guardian of at least 1 kid under the age of 18. In specified a case, the pension may be up to 85 per cent of the deceased spouse's benefit. The problem arises erstwhile a pensioner or pensioner wants to usage this option – he must quit his own benefit. In addition, if it is inactive before the retirement age and works, its earnings may not exceed 130 percent of the average monthly wage (then the widow's pension is suspended) or 70 percent of that wage – which entails a simplification of the widow's pension. These restrictions make additional difficulties for those seeking this form of financial support.
What will the fresh government introduce?
There are presently no concrete plans for many aspects of change. Nevertheless, speculation is circulating on possible reforms on the amount of widow’s pension, peculiarly in the context of expectations of the fresh government. There are voices, especially from the Left, suggesting possible changes in this area. The first concept of this organization refers to the proposal that widows and widowers should be able to receive benefits from their deceased spouse while retaining part of their own pension or vice versa: to hold the full amount of their own benefit and, at the same time, to collect, for example, 25 percent of the pension from their deceased spouse. On the another hand, the citizens' initiative, which was discussed in the erstwhile Sejm, provided for the anticipation to collect 50 percent of the deceased's benefit. However, for the minute there are no concrete findings on this issue.
Gradual change?
It is likely that the abrupt improvement in the conditions of widow's retirement is not realistic, but the gradual introduction of changes can make this option possible. As fresh solutions request time to implement and adapt, 2024 seems besides close to the changes to be effective. It is so more realistic to anticipate these changes in the 2025s or 2026s.
Ignacy Michałowski
OSINT investigator with experience in global journalism projects. It has been publishing materials for over 20 years for the largest releases. In social activities he engaged in various projects and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of people, especially those of mediocre communities. He was besides active in the fight for human rights. Contact: [email protected]
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