# Polish pension system disparities and calculation issues > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/polish-pension-system-disparities-and-calculation-issues > Updated: 2026-09-21T06:55:37.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2. Data from the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) has revealed significant wealth disparities within the Polish pension system. While some retirees receive monthly pensions as high as 54,072 PLN, others receive as little as 2 groszy due to minimal work histories. To qualify for the guaranteed minimum pension, women require 20 years of service and men require 25 years. Specific issues have emerged regarding how different calculation algorithms affect certain groups. For example, Polish teachers transitioning from compensatory benefits to universal pensions may experience lower monthly payments. The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy confirmed that such discrepancies occurred for approximately 1.3% of educators in 2024, with an average monthly reduction of 308.70 PLN. The ministry noted there is no automatic guarantee that a universal pension will exceed a previously received compensatory benefit. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-21: Polish teachers face lower pensions due to benefit algorithms Polish teachers may receive lower universal pensions than their current compensatory benefits due to differing calculation algorithms, affecting roughly 1.3% of educators. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/polish-teachers-face-lower-pensions-due-to-benefit-algorithms ### 2026-09-12: Poland pension data shows extreme wealth gaps among retirees ZUS data reveals massive pension gaps in Poland, ranging from 54,072 PLN to just 2 groszy. Government forecasts predict average pensions could reach 5,219 PLN by 2029 amid ongoing indexation efforts. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/poland-to-develop-tool-to-forecast-teacher-shortages --- Cite as: Polish pension system disparities and calculation issues. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/polish-pension-system-disparities-and-calculation-issues