How much does it take to get a 6,000-dollar pension from the Social safety Office? The expert calculates

6 1000 zł of gross pension is simply a ceiling that may seem comfortable but hard to accomplish for many Poles. Meanwhile, according to the latest calculations Peter Yushik, the chief taxation advisor at InFakt.pl, this level of benefits from the Social Insurance Institution already requires a very circumstantial income – especially for women. What does this consequence from, and what are the details of these calculations?

What influences retirement?

According to the current rules, pensions in Poland are calculated on the basis of respective main components:

• Valorised first capital – the value of contributions collected until 1999,
• Pension contributions collected after the improvement of the pension system,
• Sub-account appropriations (moved, inter alia, from OFE),
• Life expectancy – published annually by Central Statistical Office (GUS).

The longer we work and the more we earn, the more money we rise in the ZUS account, which is later shared by the estimated life period after retiring. This causes women – despite identical earnings – frequently receive lower benefits than menBecause they're retiring early.

Calculations: how much do you gotta gain for a 6 1000 PLN pension?

Expert InFakt developed a model of calculations on an example persons born in May 1985. The assumed capital collected at the beginning of the analysis is PLN 100 thousand. For reasons of simplification, it was accepted that:

• Male will work until the age of 65, i.e. for another 25 years (until 2050),
• Female – up to the age of 60, which is inactive by 20 years (until 2045).

Male: Gross earnings needed

For a man to receive a witness PLN 6 1000 per monthshould presently earn:

• approximately PLN 12 1000 gross per monthwhat constitutes 137% of average wage.

With specified earnings, the projected pension will be approx. 5920 PLN gross. This means that maintaining a advanced income level for 25 years will let to rise adequate capital to get specified a benefit.

Woman: importantly Higher Requirements

For a woman, the situation is much more difficult. Due to shorter working life and the longer expected retirement life, the gross wage required is:

• approximately PLN 20 1000 gross per monthor 222% of average wage.

At income level 19.5 1000 PLN grossA female can number on a pension of PLN 5874 gross.

That's until 8 1000 PLN more than required for men, despite the same expected level of benefit.

Why do women gotta gain more?

The main origin of this imbalance is earlier retirement age of women (60 years versus 65 years for men). In practice, this means that the capital raised must be distributed to longer duration of benefitswhich translates into their lower height.

In addition life-long tables published by the CSO indicate that women live statistically longer than men, which only deepens this difference.

How can I improve my retirement situation?

According to the expert, women who can afford it should consider further professional activity after reaching retirement age. Even 1 additional year of work can rise the benefit by 10-15 percent..

Besides, it's worth:

• Invest in voluntary forms of savings – e.g. PPK (Working Capital Plans), IKE (Individual Pension Account), IKZE (Individual Pension Insurance Account).
• Optimise retirement, choosing a more favorable term.

When is the best time to retire?

Retirement besides depends on time limit for submission of the application. In June each year ZUS conducts Valorisation of measures in accounts and subaccounts.

In 2025 this valorisation is 14,41 percent.. This means that a individual who has accumulated e.g. 800 1000 PLN, he can number on increase in pension by about PLN 550 per monthif it waits for a second half of the year pension application (e.g. July alternatively of May).

What about people who gain less?

People who earn, for example, PLN 7–8 1000 gross, do not have the chance to benefit in the order of PLN 6 1000 from ZUS itself. In specified cases it becomes crucial complementary savings and investments. Experts stress that the pension future in Poland requires proactive approach – reliance solely on ZUS is simply a risky strategy, especially for women.

A Future Perspective

Analysis like this leaves no illusions: pension strategy in Poland rewards longer professional activity and advanced earnings, while inactive perpetuating gender inequality in the context of benefits.

Faced with projected demographic change (older society, less workers) the issue of pension protection will only gain in importance. Experts call for higher financial education and promoting voluntary savings from the beginning of his professional career.