New benefits for seniors from March 2025 – up to 5 600 PLN per month

From March 1, 2025 Many Polish seniors will be able to usage new benefits from ZUSwhich may even be PLN 5,636.73 A month. This is the effect annual weighting of pensionswhich will affect the level of benefits for widows and widowers under widow’s pension. From January 1, 2025 persons gathering the criteria may submit applications to the Social Insurance Institution.

What is widow's pension?

A fresh Witness, commonly called widow’s pension, is simply a form of financial support for those who have lost their spouse and have so far been able to benefit only from family pension or your own retirement. From 1 July 2024 provisions allowed to be downloaded their pension and part of the benefit after the deceased spouse. This solution allows to get a higher amount than erstwhile regulations.

In practice, the authorised individual may collect:

• 100% of your own pension + 50% benefit after deceased spouse (if the sum does not exceed PLN 5,636.73).
• Alternatively – 100% household pension (if higher than your own pension).

Who can get a widow's pension?

New benefit widows and widowerswho were married to the deceased and are already receiving a pension. To get a benefit, the following conditions shall be met:

• Own pension rights – widow’s pension is not granted to persons without benefits from the Social Insurance Institution.
• Being a spouse of a individual who besides received a pension.
• Submission of an application to ZUS – the procedure does not take place automatically.

What is the widow's pension after 2025?

The yearly valorisation of pensions increases both basic benefits and supplementary pension limits. From March 1, 2025 the maximum widow’s pension will be PLN 5,636.73 A month.

Examples of calculations:

• Retired individual PLN 4,000, after the death of the spouse who had PLN 3 000, can number on extra PLN 1 500 (50% benefit after the deceased), which gives a full PLN 5 500 A month.
• A widow whose own pension is equal to 2 800 PLNand the dead husband was getting PLN 4 500will receive additional 2 250 złWhat will give her 5,050 PLN per month.

How do I apply for a widow's pension?

The application process is not complicated, but requires the provision of appropriate documents. Widows and widowers may apply:

• Personally at the ZUS facility,
• Online via the Electronic Services Platform (PUE) ZUS,
• By post – sending an application to the applicable ZUS branch.

Important papers to be attached:

• Your spouse's death certificate,
• Document confirming the right to a household pension or own pension,
• Declaration of non-collection of another benefits that could affect the amount of the widow’s pension.

Will the widow’s pension affect another benefits?

The benefit does not exclude the anticipation of receiving pensionssuch as:

• 13th and 14th pensions,
• Extras for seniors over 75 years old,
• Benefits to combatants and repressed persons.

Is it worth utilizing the widow’s pension?

Experts indicate that the fresh regulations will importantly improve the financial situation of widows and widowers. So far, the choice between own pension and household pension caused many seniors to receive little than they could in the fresh system. Thanks. the anticipation of combining benefits, many people will gain higher income.

As estimated up to 2 million people in Poland, it can benefit from this form of support.

• From March 1, 2025 the maximum widow’s pension will be PLN 5,636.73 A month.
• The benefit shall be granted to persons with a pension who have lost their spouse.
• It is essential to submit an application to the Social Insurance Institution – this does not happen automatically.
• The fresh rules let to combine 100% of your own pension with 50% of your deceased spouse's benefit.

Seniors who have not yet applied should contact the Social safety Office as shortly as possible in order not to lose the chance to receive an increased benefit.