Poland’s disability supplement income threshold rises by 5.3% from March 2026, ZUS confirms, affecting benefit eligibility.
Eligibility and Current Threshold
The supplementary allowance, known as 500+ for persons with disabilities, is available to adults with a ZUS doctor’s certificate confirming inability to live independently. A key condition is the income threshold. Currently, applicants’ public benefits, mainly pensions and annuities, must not exceed 2552.39 zł monthly.
Annual Adjustment Mechanism
Article 2(3) of the 2019 Act on the Supplementary Allowance mandates annual indexation of this threshold from 1 March, using the same index applied to pensions and annuities. ZUS President announces the new figure in the Monitor Polski. With pensions and annuities increasing by 5.3% from 1 March 2026, the threshold will rise to 2687.67 zł, per a 17 February 2026 ZUS announcement (M.P. poz. 224).
Benefit Calculation Method
The supplementary allowance itself is also counted towards the income threshold. At the current threshold (2552.39 zł), a full 500 zł benefit is paid if pension or annuity income does not exceed 2052.39 zł. Income above this amount triggers a reduction: ZUS pays the difference between the threshold and the actual income. If income exceeds the threshold, the benefit is not paid. When the threshold rises to 2687.67 zł, the maximum pension/annuity income for the full benefit becomes 2187.67 zł.
Exempted Benefits and Conflicts
Not all public benefits are counted towards the income threshold. The law specifies exemptions, including the care allowance and the supporting benefit. Receiving these does not affect entitlement or the amount of the supplementary allowance. However, the 2025 supplementary addition to the social pension (2610.72 zł) is *not* exempted. Receiving this higher benefit results in the loss of eligibility for the supplementary allowance.
