Compensation for veterans

Simple mechanism

– We're not a heartless administration. If the curious individual fails to fill out the claim for compensation correctly, we do not reject his application, but we ask for additional and additional explanations – said Krzysztof Kosiński, manager of the Department of Social Affairs of the MON. He explains that specified explanations are needed e.g. erstwhile a veteran wrote that upon returning from the mission he received compensation, but did not add from what source. If it has been paid from private insurance, this does not affect the decision to grant compensation. “We are trying to guarantee that the average duration of processing the application is not longer than 2 weeks,” added manager Kosiński.

It happened that people who did not belong to it were denied the payment of this benefit to a individual who did not have the position of injured veteran. The 7 soldiers granted specified position decided to search redress before the court, which excludes compensation.
In the MON statistic in early March 2026, there were 873 veterans injured who had participated in missions abroad since 1953. Among them are soldiers of fresh abroad operations (mainly from Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans), although there are exceptions, e.g. 1 of the oldest applicants for compensation was born in the 1940s.

The highest number of injured veterans has a wellness injury of up to 9 percent (436). The second largest group is people with a 10 to 20 percent harm (283). In total, there are almost 3 quarters of eligible compensation. However, veterans injured with the highest harm – 21 percent and more – are 16. The benefit they were entitled to amounted to PLN 6,000 for each percent of injury, and since 1 March of this year – in connection with valorisation – increased to PLN 6.3 thousand.

– The introduction of compensation resulted in a simple and transparent mechanics for granting veterans the benefits provided by the amendment of the Veterans Act. all soldier injured on the mission receives the same amount for 1 percent of the damage, says manager of DSS MON. This solution was worked out after many conversations and meetings with injured veterans.

A hard Return to Service

Veterans injured have 2 years to submit a claim for compensation, counting from the date of entry into force of the fresh rules, which is from 10 September 2025. Among those who decided not to wait so long is among others. Captain Mar. Witold Kortika. He intends to make specified a request shortly. An officer was injured in 2006 during the 3rd shift on a mission in Iraq erstwhile the convoy he was driving was fired on. He was besides injured during the XII change PKW Afghanistan.

For the damaged ankle and ulna joint and the spine and shoulder, the military medical committee awarded him 15% of the harm to health. The insults he sustained were evident in his regular life, but they did not miss his return to service. “Many of my colleagues, more severely injured, lost their chance to proceed their career in the army and due to their wellness went to civilians,” says the officer.

He adds that the compensation they received at the time did not compensate them for the lost opportunities for further service and the benefits associated with it, among others, to receive a military pension. “This is why it is so crucial that veterans are granted compensation,” stresses Captain Mar. Kortyk. "I believe that this is simply a benefit not only for wellness damage, but besides for not being able to proceed military service and professional career," he adds.

An example of a veteran injured who had to end his service due to injuries suffered on mission is the Major at rest. Jacek Pionek, soldier of the 6th assault battalion in Gliwice (now 6 Airborne Battalion). In 2004, he served as commander of the patrol platoon in the PKW SFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. While patrolling the Honker he was driving, he rolled over and fell into a minefield erstwhile a civilian vehicle hit his way. “Unable to service in air-desant troops,” the military medical committee ruled. due to a fractured spine, punctured lung and shoulder injuries, 30% of the harm to his wellness was attributed to him.

The officer had to quit jumping, but he wanted to stay in the service. We did it. He became a lecturer at the Higher School of Officers of the Land Army and then served as a Z/O specialist in the Board of Rocket and Artillery Forces in DGRSZ in Warsaw. “It’s hard to tell how much I lost due to the fact that I had to leave the air force,” said Major Piontek. After the accident, he served as captain for 12 years, missed promotions. In 2017, as a major, he retired due to a deterioration in his health.

Important message

He's already filed for compensation. The money received, among others, wants to spend on rehabilitation equipment, to practice besides at home. “As a veteran, I am sentenced to systematic improvement procedures for the remainder of my life,” he admits. Officer leaves erstwhile a year for NFZ rehabilitation, receives free painkillers. As the pain of a broken spine on a mission increases, it besides uses private physiotherapies.

Major Piontek emphasizes how crucial the transmission comes from the fresh amendment of the Veterans Act: the soldier must know that if he is injured during the service, he will not stay alone. – Granting compensation to veterans has shown the state's concern for securing our rehabilitation. Personally, I felt taken care of, as if individual said "we're not leaving you," the Major emphasizes.