As of 1 January 2025, the alleged widow’s pension will enter into force. Therefore, the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) published explanations on the co-financing of benefits with the household pension. It is worth looking at who will be entitled to this fresh benefit and under what conditions.
Who's the widow's pension?
The widow’s pension will be a benefit for those who meet certain conditions. To apply for a widow’s pension, it is essential to:
- be at least 60 years old (for women) or 65 years old (for men),
- be married until the date of death of the spouse,
- obtain the right to a survivor's pension after the deceased spouse has passed 55 years (for women) or 60 years (for men),
- not be in a fresh marriage.
It is worth noting that the right to a widow’s pension can be lost if the entitled individual enters into a fresh marriage. The right to benefit ceases on the day before the day of the fresh marriage.
Contraction of benefits and widow’s pension
The widow’s pension will be paid to persons who are entitled to both household pension and their own benefit. Importantly, the household pension does not apply only to benefits paid by ZUS. These may besides be household pensions paid by another pension bodies, specified as military, police or agricultural pensions.
Your own witnessing includes:
- pensions,
- agricultural pension,
- pensions of individual farmers and their household members,
- military and police pensions,
- Pre-retirement allowance,
- a bridge pension,
- teacher compensation,
- invalidity pension (including training pension),
- agricultural disability pension (including training pension).
Amount of widow’s pension
ZUS stated that in the event of a combination of benefits with a household pension, persons entitled to receive:
- 100% household pension and 15% of own benefit, or
- 100% own benefit and 15% household pension.
The choice of a more favourable option will be facilitated by the Social safety Office, which will assist in making decisions which will be more cost-effective for the individual.
Importantly, as of 1 January 2027 these proportions will increase – alternatively of 15% of the second benefit, 25% can be obtained, and the widow’s pension will scope a maximum of 50% of the second benefit. The final amount will be determined on the basis of analyses carried out after the start of the programme.
Maximum amount of widow’s pension
ZUS besides introduced a limit on the maximum amount of widow’s pension. The full amount of all benefits shall not exceed 3 times the lowest pension. This limit will besides include benefits paid by abroad institutions and another benefits to be determined by the fugitive. If this limit is exceeded, the benefit received will be reduced accordingly by an excess.
Retirement of a widow in the event of incapacity for work due to an accident at work
Persons who are entitled to a survivor’s pension, pension and invalidity pension as a consequence of an accident at work or occupational illness will be able to receive a combination of benefits specified as:
- 100% household pension, 15% pension and 50% disability pension, or
- 100% pension, 15% household pension and 50% incapacity pension, or
- 100% invalidity pension, 15% household pension and 50% pension.
Family benefit and another benefits
Where a individual applying for a widow's pension is entitled to a peculiar pension or pension granted by the Prime Minister, or to an honorary benefit granted after the age of 100, the Social safety Office shall find the confluence of benefits. akin rules will apply where the individual entitled to the widow’s pension is entitled to a cash benefit for household members of officers or professional soldiers who have died in connection with the service.
Payment of widow’s pension
The widow's pension bill will enter into force on 1 January 2025, but the payment of benefits will not start until 1 July 2025. This time will let ZUS and another pension and pension bodies to prepare for the implementation of payments.
Documents required
Persons applying for the co-financing of benefits with a household pension request not add any additional papers if they have already acquired the right to a household pension and their own benefit. If the applicant has not previously submitted an application for a exile benefit, he should do so and attach appropriate documents. ZUS will inform the applicant if the required papers are missing.
It is worth following the ZUS messages and another sources of information in order to keep up-to-date with any fresh information on the widow’s pension, especially in the context of the submission of applications and the selection of appropriate benefit options.
The fresh government aims to supply additional financial support for widows and widowers who inactive gotta face hard life situations after losing their spouse.
More here:
The widow’s pension is getting closer What is worth knowing about this fresh witnessing?
