In Poland, the standard retirement age is 60 years for women and 65 years for men. However, there is simply a group of professions that representatives can number on to end their professional career early. This does not apply only to uniformed services – the list of entitled early retirement is much longer and any cases may be surprising.
Working in peculiar conditions and of a circumstantial nature
Early retirement may be made by professionals:
- under peculiar conditions, i.e. exposed to harmful factors specified as advanced temperature, chemicals or underground work,
- of a peculiar nature, requiring exceptional physical, intellectual or responsibility, e.g. teachers or artists.
To benefit from early retirement, certain conditions must be met. The retirement age can be reduced by up to 20 years, depending on the kind of work done.
Conditions for early retirement
Those wishing to quit early must meet three key criteria:
- Appropriate age – at least 55 years for women and 60 years for men (in any cases less).
- Appropriate work placement – minimum 20 years for women and 25 years for men.
- Working in peculiar conditions for at least 15 years – full-time.
In addition, if the individual belongs to Open Pension Funds (OFE), must submit a request for transfers of funds to the State budget.
List of professions valid for early retirement
Below we present most crucial occupational groups that can benefit from a reduced retirement age.
1. Uniform service – up to 15 years of work is enough
The most celebrated group of privileged are uniformed services, including:
- Police,
- firefighters,
- professional soldiers,
- Border defender officers,
- Prison Service.
Rules vary according to the date of service. Persons who joined the formation before 2013 may quit after 15 years of work, regardless of age. Those who began their ministry later must work minimum 25 years and have completed 55 years.
2. Miners – they can leave even regardless of age
Miners are 1 of the fewer groups for which no minimum retirement age. They can quit after working 25 years in mining conditions. If they worked under peculiarly hard conditions, their internship may be reduced.
3. Teachers – compensation provision alternatively of pension
Teachers do not have a typical early retirement, but may benefit from teacher compensation. It shall benefit persons who have:
- 55 years (women) or 60 years (men),
- at least 30 years of experience, including 20 years as a teacher.
The benefit is paid until the general retirement age is reached.
4. Railway undertakings – Key traffic safety
Train drivers, traffic attendants and another railway safety-related persons may quit after 55 years of age (females) or 60 years of age (males) and working at least 15 years at a given post.
5. Energy and chemistry workers – advanced work harm
People employed in chemical plants, refineries or in the operation of energy equipment frequently work under conditions health-threatening. erstwhile age and internship requirements are met, they may apply for early benefits.
6. Artists and creators – retirement from 40
Dancers, acrobats, stuntmen and another professionals requiring peculiar physical fitness may quit even at the age of 40 years. The condition is appropriate Work placement in a given profession.
How do I apply for early retirement?
To benefit from early retirement, you must submit application to ZUS, accompanied by the applicable documents:
- certificate of employment under peculiar conditions,
- confirmation of contribution and non-contributory periods,
- Request for transfer from OFE (if applicable).
ZUS examines the application individually, assessing whether the individual meets the statutory conditions.
Is early retirement a privilege or a necessity?
The anticipation of early retirement awakens numerous controversy. On the 1 hand, it allows people working in hard conditions to end professional activity faster, on the another hand – it causes additional burden on the pension system.
The question is: Will the strategy be able to keep specified a large number of early pensioners in the future? The government is increasingly examining the anticipation of changes in this area, so those curious in specified services should monitor the situation on an ongoing basis.
More here:
Who can number on early retirement? A list of professions may surprise you
