Poland will broaden eligibility and raise benefit amounts for its Supporting Benefit program for adults with disabilities, starting January 1, 2026.
Changes to the Supporting Benefit from 2026
Rules for accessing the Supporting Benefit for adult individuals with disabilities will change starting January 1, 2026. The program will include a new group of eligible individuals, and payment amounts will increase, linked to social pension valorization from March 2026.
This means benefits ranging from just under 800 zł to over 4,300 zł per month, depending on the point score.
Lower Threshold for Benefit Eligibility
From 2026, the right to the Supporting Benefit will be extended to a wider group of people. Eligibility will now be granted from 70 points on the support needs scale.
Phased Implementation of the Supporting Benefit
The Supporting Benefit was designed as a phased solution. It initially covered individuals with the highest level of support needs, then subsequent groups. 2026 completes this process – from January 1st, individuals with a score of 70–77 points, as determined by the provincial assessment teams, will enter the system.
Expanded Access to Support
In practice, this means that support is no longer reserved exclusively for individuals in the most severe functional state. For the first time, it will also include those who previously “did not fit” into any major benefit, despite real limitations in daily life.
What is the Supporting Benefit?
The Supporting Benefit was introduced by the Act of July 7, 2023, and has been in effect since January 1, 2024. Its purpose is to enable people with disabilities to decide how to use funds, with the state assessing the real need for support.
Assessments are made by the Provincial Team for Disability Assessment (WZON), which awards from 70 to 100 points based on an interview and assessment of functioning in daily life. This score then opens the way to funds from ZUS.
Supporting Benefit Amounts in 2026
The benefit amount is linked to the social pension and depends on the number of points awarded in the WZON decision. Estimated monthly amounts are as follows:
Level of Support Need (Points) | Estimated Monthly Amount from 2026
70–74 | approx. 792 zł
75–79 | approx. 1,188 zł
80–84 | approx. 1,583 zł
85–89 | approx. 2,375 zł
90–94 | approx. 3,562 zł
95–100 | approx. 4,353 zł
These amounts are calculated as a percentage of the social pension and will increase from March 1, 2026, due to the valorization of the social pension. The benefit is tax-free but counted as income for other forms of support.
How to Benefit from the New Rules
Interested individuals can apply for the Supporting Benefit after achieving at least 70 points in the assessment of the level of support needs.
Exclusions and Limitations
The Supporting Benefit cannot be received simultaneously with the care allowance under the new rules. Individuals residing in full-time care facilities are excluded from the program.
Expanding the program to individuals with lower scores changes the scale of the benefit – from a niche solution to a more widespread one. The change in the system’s philosophy is to empower the person with a disability, not the caregiver.
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