Up to 50,000 Polish seniors turning 75 in May 2026 will automatically receive a 366.68 PLN monthly care allowance from the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS).
Projected Number of Recipients in May 2026
Demographic estimates suggest that approximately 50,000 to 55,000 individuals will turn 75 in May 2026. Based on data from GUS, the cohort turning 75 in 2026 consists of those born in 1951, a year with over 780,000 births.
This scale means the monthly cost for new allowances could reach 18 million PLN, with the annual effect for a single birth year amounting to hundreds of millions of PLN.
2026 Care Allowance: Amount and Calculation
As of March 1, 2026, the care allowance is set at 366.68 PLN per month. This amount is the result of annual indexation based on inflation and real wage growth.
The benefit is not dependent on income, meaning there are no income thresholds, limits, or “złotówka for a złotówka” mechanisms involved.
Automatic Eligibility and Exclusions
For those reaching age 75, ZUS grants the allowance automatically without an application. Recipients must be entitled to a pension or disability benefit from ZUS. The system identifies eligibility automatically, requiring no documents or medical certificates.
However, not every 75-year-old will receive the payment. The system only applies to those already within the ZUS benefit system. Additionally, if a senior spends most of the month in a publicly funded care facility, ZUS may withhold the allowance.
Payment Schedule and Application Procedures
The allowance is paid alongside standard pensions on regular dates, such as the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, or 25th of the month. For example, if a senior turns 75 on May 12, they would receive the higher amount on their next scheduled payment date, such as May 20.
While the process is automatic for those 75 and older, applications are only necessary for individuals under 75 who have been officially ruled unable to live independently.
Conflict with Municipal Care Benefits
Seniors cannot receive both the ZUS care allowance and a municipal care benefit simultaneously. If the ZUS allowance is granted, the municipal benefit must be discontinued. Failure to report this change could result in a requirement to return the funds.
