Poland raises widows' pensions and tweaks retirement rules

The Polish government announced several changes affecting seniors. From January 1 2027, the share of the second component of widows’ and widowers’ pensions will increase from 15 % to 25 %, raising monthly payments by up to about 200 zł without requiring new applications. The 14th pension, an additional annual benefit, will be paid automatically in September 2026; the full amount will be 1 978,49 zł gross (about 1 800,43 zł net) for beneficiaries whose regular pension does not exceed 2 900 zł gross, with the amount reduced for higher earners.

Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska‑Nałęcz has proposed linking the retirement age to child‑bearing status, while the President of the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), Liwiusz Laska, said Polish society is not ready for any statutory increase in the retirement age and warned that such changes could worsen the existing pension gap between women and men. Laska also outlined simple ways for individuals to raise their future pension, emphasizing longer employment and supplemental savings schemes.

Separately, seniors aged 60 + with pension income below half of the average national wage (currently 4 451,78 zł gross) can obtain an exemption from the RTV subscription fee, though the exemption must be applied for at a post office.