Poland’s Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) will raise pension and benefit supplements by 5.3% starting March 1, 2026, with varying application requirements.
Pension Supplements to Increase in 2026
Starting March 1, 2026, all supplements to pension and rent benefits will increase by 5.3%. While the care allowance for those over 75 will be paid automatically, applications are required for energy allowances and orphan benefits.
ZUS Supplement Overview
The Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), in addition to paying pensions and benefits, also provides a range of monetary supplements to eligible groups. These supplements are intended to be complementary and increase overall financial support, increasing annually in March as part of the indexation process.
Supplement Eligibility and Application Process
Not all pensioners and benefit recipients receive additional benefits automatically. The supplement system in 2026 is differentiated – entitlement depends on meeting specific criteria such as age, health status, special professional status, or family situation. Some benefits are granted automatically, while in many cases, a separate application and supporting documents are required. Understanding the rules for granting supplements, knowing which are granted automatically, and which require additional formalities is crucial.
2026 Supplement Amounts
Following the March indexation, supplement rates paid with pension and rent benefits have changed. The current amounts are as follows:
Supplement Types and Amounts (as of March 1, 2026)
Care Allowance: 366.68 zł – For individuals over 75 or younger individuals with total disability and inability to work and live independently (requires an application and ZUS medical assessment).
Allowance for Secret Teaching: 366.68 zł – For teachers who conducted secret teaching during World War II or before September 1, 1939, in occupied territories.
Care Allowance for War Invalids: 550.02 zł – For war invalids who are totally unable to work and live independently.
Allowance for Complete Orphan: 689.17 zł – For individuals entitled to a family pension who have lost both parents.
Veteran’s Allowance: 366.68 zł – Pensioners or benefit recipients with veteran status, or individuals designated by the Head of the Office for Veterans and War Victims.
Compensatory Allowance: 55.00 zł – Veterans, victims of war and post-war repression, and widows and widowers of such individuals.
Cash Supplement to War Invalids’ Pension: 1,403.90 zł – War invalids receiving a pension for this reason.
Benefit for Former Miner-Soldiers and Deportees: 366.68 zł – Individuals in specific wartime and repressive situations.
Energy Allowance: 336.16 zł – Veterans, soldiers forcibly employed in mines, quarries, and construction battalions; widows and widowers of eligible individuals.
Care Allowance Details
The most popular supplement to pension and benefit payments is the care allowance, amounting to 366.68 zł per month. ZUS grants it automatically to individuals over 75 who receive a pension or benefit due to disability. Younger individuals can also apply if they have a medical certificate of total disability and inability to self-sufficiency, issued by a ZUS medical expert or medical commission.
Care Allowance Ineligibility
The care allowance will not be granted if the entitled person resides in a care and treatment facility or a nursing and care facility for more than 2 weeks in a month. It is also important to note that two benefits of the same nature cannot be received simultaneously. A person who has the right to a care allowance from ZUS is not entitled to a care allowance granted by the mayor, district administrator, or city president. In the event of ZUS granting the allowance, the body paying the care allowance must be immediately informed to avoid improper receipt of benefits.
Other Supplement Details
The allowance for war invalids is available to soldiers who participated in World War II and those who suffered permanent health damage during military service. Unlike the standard care allowance, submitting form EDP along with a medical certificate on form OL‑9 is necessary. From March 1, 2026, the allowance amounts to 550.02 zł.
The allowance for secret teaching may be granted to individuals who conducted educational activities in secret during the occupation in World War II, and also to teachers who conducted classes in Polish before September 1, 1939, in schools functioning in the territory of the Third Reich or in the former Free City of Gdańsk. If entitlement to both the allowance for secret teaching and the veteran’s allowance exists, both benefits cannot be received simultaneously. From March 1, 2026, the allowance amounts to 366.68 zł.
The allowance for a complete orphan is available to individuals entitled to a family pension who have lost both parents, regardless of age. To obtain the allowance, an appropriate application and documents confirming eligibility are required. From March 1, the amount of the allowance for a complete orphan is 689.17 zł per month.