New regulations from 2025 in Poland introduce the “widow’s pension,” allowing some to combine retirement benefits with family survivor benefits.
General Rule: Pension and Family Benefit Confluence
Historically, Polish pension and benefit systems prevented simultaneous receipt of full amounts for multiple entitlements. Individuals with both their own pension and a family survivor benefit typically had to choose one.
This general rule remains, but from 2025, a special solution for widows and widowers – commonly called the “widow’s pension” – has been introduced.
What Changed from 2025: The Widow’s Pension
New regulations effective January 1, 2025, allow for the combination of a family survivor benefit with an existing retirement or disability benefit, with payouts beginning July 1, 2025. Eligible individuals may receive:
From January 1, 2027, the portion of the second benefit will increase from 15% to 25%.
When Can Both Benefits Be Received Simultaneously?
The ability to combine a pension and family survivor benefit isn’t automatic. To qualify for the “widow’s pension,” individuals must meet specific statutory conditions in addition to having entitlement to both benefits.
Eligibility Requirements
The Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) specifies that eligible individuals must collectively meet the following criteria:
Application Required
ZUS emphasizes that submitting the appropriate ERWD application is necessary to determine combined benefit payments. Simply being entitled to both a pension and a family survivor benefit does not automatically trigger concurrent payment.
Eligible individuals must:
When a Choice Remains Necessary
The new regulations do not eliminate the need for a choice in all cases. If the statutory conditions for the widow’s pension aren’t met, or the proper application isn’t submitted, choosing one benefit remains necessary.
Even with the changes, receiving both benefits at 100% is not possible. Therefore, in some cases, determining which option is financially more advantageous remains crucial.
Payment Option Selection
The new regulations do not impose a single payment model. Individuals choose whether to receive:
From 2027, the second benefit portion will increase to 25% instead of 15%.
Combined Payment Limit
Combining benefits is subject to a monetary limit. ZUS states that the total amount of benefits paid, including the family survivor benefit, cannot exceed three times the minimum pension. As of March 1, 2026, the minimum pension is 1978.49 złoty gross, setting the combined benefit limit at 5935.47 złoty gross. Any amount exceeding this limit will be reduced accordingly.
Application Date and Payment Date
The Ministry of Family and ZUS clarified that applications submitted by July 31, 2025, could be assessed from July 1, 2025. Applications submitted later entitle the individual to concurrent payment from the month of submission, but no earlier than July 1, 2025.
Currently, after the July 31, 2025 deadline, payment is granted from the month of application, but not before July 1, 2025.
Which Benefits are Included
The new regulations extend beyond traditional ZUS pensions and family survivor benefits. The term “family survivor benefit” includes police survivor benefits, military survivor benefits, and agricultural survivor benefits, while “own benefit” can be a pension or disability benefit from specific systems.
Summary
Following the changes effective from 2025, determining whether one can simultaneously receive a pension and a family survivor benefit is no longer straightforward. It’s possible in many cases, but only through a benefit confluence, not two full payments. Choosing one benefit remains necessary in some situations, while others allow for one benefit in full and the other partially. Meeting statutory conditions, submitting the correct application, and staying within the statutory limit are key.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I receive a pension and a family survivor benefit simultaneously?
Yes, in certain cases, starting July 1, 2025, under the terms of the “widow’s pension,” but this does not mean receiving both benefits in full.
2. Is simply being entitled to a pension and a family survivor benefit enough?
No. Additional statutory conditions regarding age, marital status, the timing of acquiring the right to a family survivor benefit, and the absence of a new marriage must be met.
3. In what proportion can benefits be combined?
From July 1, 2025, it’s 100% of one benefit and 15% of the other, increasing to 25% from January 1, 2027.
4. Is an application required?
Yes. ZUS indicates that an ERWD application must be submitted to determine the combined benefit payment.
5. Is there a limit to the total payout?
Yes. The total amount of benefits paid, including the family survivor benefit, cannot exceed three times the minimum pension.