After more than a decade of stagnation, the ceremony allowance in Poland will be increased to PLN 7000. But it is not the end of the changes – the government plans to simplify procedures and reduce the time of payment of benefits. The bill's amendment responds to real social needs and expanding burial costs. Below we present a full list of changes that will come into force from 2026.
Funeral allowance increased after 14 years
The ceremony allowance for 14 years was PLN 4000 – amount established in 2011 by the Government of the Civic Platform and PSL. It was a extremist simplification from earlier PLN 6395.70, resulting from the desire to reduce budgetary expenditure and to harmonise the benefits.
Although initially PLN 4000 covered most of the burial costs, in time the real value of this amount began to drop dramatically. Modern ceremony prices far exceed the first limit – The average cost of burial in Poland present is 7-10 1000 PLNAnd in large cities, even more.
Over the years, various political groups have announced changes, but real action has been lacking. Only in 2024 The government, under force from public opinion and social organisations, has taken a concrete step. The fresh amount of the allowance will be PLN 7000, a from 2026 the benefit will be valuedif inflation in the erstwhile year exceeds 5%.
The bill was signed by the president on May 30, 2025. This is the first specified large step towards adapting the benefit to marketplace realities in respective years.
Ordering and deregulation: fresh legislation
The increase does not end. Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy prepared a draft amendment to the Social Insurance Fund Pensions Act. It assumes a number amendments to simplify the procedure for applying for a ceremony allowance.
In the current legal state, there are no circumstantial provisions governing the application and payment of the allowance. Practice shows that many people usage brokerage funeral establishmentsHowever, The bill did not give them formal authorityWhich gave birth to uncertainty.
The task assumes that:
- Funeral facilities can apply for benefits on behalf of household members or another persons who have incurred burial costs.
- Applications and essential papers may be submitted directly to the Social Insurance Institution or through a ceremony home.
- A ceremony home, authorised, will be able to receive funds directly on the bank’s own account.
These changes are of crucial importance to those who are incapable to deal with the formalities themselves during mourning. They will besides let for better cooperation between ZUS and the ceremony industry, and the process itself will become more predictable and transparent.
Faster payment of benefits: up to 14 days
However, the most visible change for citizens will be reduced waiting time for the payment of the allowance. It is presently up to 30 dayswhich is frequently besides long in the context of ceremony arrangements. After changes:
- In typical cases benefit will be paid within 14 days from establishing the last essential circumstance.
- No administrative decision will be requiredif the ceremony costs are borne only by a household associate of the deceased.
- Enough. complete application and required documentsthat the flat-rate benefit should be paid to the applicant.
It is simply a extremist simplification of the full procedure, which is complicated and incriminating today. In the simplest cases money can go to the eligible even within 2 weeks.
When will the decision of ZUS proceed to be required?
In any cases, it will be essential to keep the current, more detailed procedure. This is the case where:
- Several people or institutions incurred ceremony costs – e.g. household with employer of the deceased, home of social assistance or commune.
- Applicant is not a household member, but a private individual who was not connected to the deceased.
Then ZUS will issue an administrative decision and the benefit will be paid proportional to the costs incurredon the basis of papers confirming their amount.
System security: provision for reimbursement in case of fraud
The draft amendment besides assumes introduction of a protective mechanism. If the benefit goes to an unauthorised individual – e.g. due to an mistake or deficiency of current information – it will be considered incorrectly collected and refundableeven if it was not the applicant's fault.
This is to defend the strategy from unauthorised payment of funds and at the same time motivate all parties – both ZUS and ceremony facilities – to exercise care in the completion and verification of documents.
After years of stagnation, a ceremony allowance in Poland it has experienced real and systemic changes. A higher amount of provision, simplification of procedures and acceleration of payments is an crucial signal that the state sees the problems of citizens in the most hard moments of their lives.
The fresh regulations will enter into force from 1 January 2026. Their goal is not only financial support, but besides increasing the availability and efficiency of public institutions. This is simply a step towards a more friendly and understandable administration.
If the government consistently implements all the announced changes, it can become a model for subsequent reforms in the area of social benefits in Poland.
Continued here:
Funeral allowance increases to 7000 PLN. Changes from 2026 will delight many Poles
