New witnessing in 2025. Check how much you can get totally free

Since January 2025 Poland enters into force new social benefitsto support people of retirement age. At first glance, the proposal seems attractive, but an accurate analysis of the details of the solution shows that not all possible beneficiaries should choose to adopt it. In any cases, taking advantage of a fresh benefit may be little beneficial than it initially seems.

Who can benefit from the fresh witness?

By Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), the fresh programme will be available around 1.2 million people in Poland. The benefit is addressed to persons of retirement age who meet certain criteria. The main requirements are:

• reaching retirement age (60 years for women, 65 years for men),
• remaining married until the death of the partner,
• no remarriage,
• proof that the right to benefit was acquired after the age of 55 or 60 (depending on gender).

This fresh solution allows combination of benefits in a flexible way. Beneficiaries will be able to choose 1 of 2 options:

1. Receipt of the full amount of 1 benefit and additional 15% of the second benefit,
2. Or vice versa – the full amount of the second benefit with an additional 15% of the first.

Is this witnessing worthwhile?

Although the fresh benefit appears to be a affirmative solution, it actually requires a thorough analysis of the financial situation by possible beneficiaries. In any cases, the combination of benefits may lead to a simplification in their full value compared to the existing arrangements.

Example: Those who receive a advanced pension may lose any of the additional benefits, specified as social benefits or taxation relief, if their full income after the combination of benefits exceeds a certain threshold.

Moreover, those who do not meet all the strict criteria, specified as the absence of remarriage, will not be able to benefit from the fresh benefit.

Interactive tool ZUS – how does it work?

To make it easier for citizens to realize whether they are eligible for a fresh benefit, ZUS introduced interactive tool available on your website. Users can complete a simple survey that verifies their permissions based on the given data. This tool gained quite a few popularity – according to ZUS, in the first days since its launch it has benefited over 100 000 people.

Key limitations

The fresh rules besides contain respective crucial restrictions:

• The benefit only applies to persons who meet all the criteria on the day of application. The absence of 1 of the requirements means automatic rejection of the application.
• Persons who apply for benefits but scope retirement age before 2025 may be asked for additional papers confirming their right to receive money.
• The amendment introduces a gross verification mechanics which may consequence in a simplification in the amount paid in case of excessive income for the applicant.

Expert opinions and social responses

The fresh benefit task has sparked mixed reactions. Social Policy Experts stress that the combination of benefits can be an effective way to support older people, but inform against possible traps resulting from an incorrect assessment of the benefit.

Many citizens, especially those who reached retirement age just before 2025, feel left out in the fresh system. Many elder organizations call on the government to extend the eligibility criteria.

In turn, the Ministry of household and Social Policy notes that the fresh provision is intended to be a flexible solution that will make it easier for beneficiaries to adapt support to their individual needs.