7,000 PLN From ZUS Is Just the Beginning: Government and Sejm Prepare Another Funeral Benefit Revolution

Following the rise of the funeral benefit to 7,000 PLN from January 1, 2026, parliamentary and governmental bodies are planning further simplifications, digital procedures, and additional support forms.

Higher Amount and New Rules From January 1, 2026

Raising the funeral benefit amount from 4,000 PLN to 7,000 PLN starting January 1, 2026, was a long-awaited breakthrough after 13 years of frozen rates. As findings from the parliamentary subcommittee for social security show, this is not the end of the reforms. The government, in cooperation with ZUS and KRUS, is preparing further facilities for the families of the deceased, including the digitalization of procedures and new forms of support for exceptionally expensive burials. Check the current rules and what will change in the upcoming months.

The breakthrough changes taking effect at the beginning of 2026 brought palpable relief to people organizing the burials of their loved ones. After over a decade of a rigid 4,000 PLN rate, the benefit increased to 7,000 PLN. A key rule of the new system is relying on the date of death rather than the date of filing the application or holding the funeral ceremony. If the death occurred on or after January 1, 2026, insured persons are entitled to the higher amount.

The regulations precisely differentiate those eligible:

Split Payment and Application via Funeral Home

Among the solutions introduced from the beginning of 2026 is the legal regulation allowing funeral parlors to act as intermediaries. The company organizing the funeral—with the prior consent and authorization of the family—can submit the application directly to ZUS or KRUS.

Furthermore, a flexible split-payment mechanism for the benefit has been introduced. In this model, part of the due funds goes to the funeral home’s account to cover presented invoices, while any remaining amount is transferred to the funeral organizer. As revealed at the parliamentary session, ZUS registered nearly 8,000 such split transactions in the first months of 2026, significantly reducing the financial burden on loved ones in the first days following a tragedy.

Parliamentary Subcommittee Reveals Plans for Electronic System and Targeted Benefit from 2027

During the May session of the permanent parliamentary Subcommittee for Social Security, representatives of the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy (MRPiPS), along with ZUS and KRUS, summarized the first months of the new regulations and presented upcoming steps.

Balance of the First Months of 2026: Over a Billion Zlotys for Family Support

Data presented by the pension authorities demonstrate the huge scale of demand for support in the new financial dimension. From January to May 2026, ZUS alone received over 115.6 thousand applications for the funeral benefit, and the total amount of transferred funds exceeded 859 million PLN. Meanwhile, KRUS processed over 11.2 thousand applications totaling over 70.6 million PLN in the first quarter of 2026.

The announced further simplifications of administrative procedures and the integration of IT systems are intended to ensure that formalities following the loss of a loved one require minimal engagement from citizens.