Poland sees more retirees working and ZUS contributions surge

Recent data show a steady rise in the number of Polish retirees who continue employment while receiving pension benefits. By the end of 2025, about 879,500 seniors combined work and pension income, up from 872,600 a year earlier, with annual growth of a few percent.

The Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) reported a 9.1% increase in quarterly contributions, receiving 101.7 billion złoty in Q1 2026. The surge is driven by a growing insured pool—now 16.3 million people—and higher wages. Foreign workers, particularly Ukrainians and Belarusians, account for 8% of contributors (1.305 million people), bolstering the fund’s finances. As a result, average pension payouts rose 7.5% to 4,381 złoty in March 2026.

Experts advise delaying pension receipt by a year to boost future benefits by roughly 8%, rather than taking both salary and pension simultaneously. ZUS also outlines procedures for Poles to claim a second pension from other EU countries without double taxation. While public‑debt levels have approached thresholds that could trigger limits on pension indexation, the finance minister assures no immediate change to pension adjustments.