Poland's ZUS announces 2026 work‑accident compensation amounts

From 2026 the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) will grant a one‑off payment of 1,781 zł for each percent of permanent or long‑term health impairment resulting from a work accident or occupational disease. Higher sums apply in special cases, such as 31,162 zł for total disability, up to 147,271 zł for the spouse or children of a deceased insured person, and more than 160,000 zł for additional family members.

Eligibility covers persons insured under the work‑accident scheme and, in certain situations, family members of a deceased insured individual. Claims must be filed with ZUS together with the employer’s accident protocol and a medical certificate; the agency must decide within 14 days and pay within 30 days.

Increasingly, victims turn to specialised compensation firms to challenge low payouts and navigate complex procedures. These firms review insurer assessments, prepare appeals, gather expert evidence and pursue additional entitlements such as medical‑rehabilitation costs, lost earnings, moral damages and third‑party care expenses. Their services aim to secure higher settlements and relieve claimants of the procedural burden.