Polish teachers can receive a monthly compensation benefit of up to 4,465 zlotys before reaching standard retirement age. In March 2026, 9,400 people collected this benefit, with an average payout of 4,465.17 zlotys. The benefit is available to teachers with at least 30 years of professional experience, including 20 years in education.
The teacher compensation benefit serves as a bridge pension, allowing qualified educators to retire earlier. According to ZUS data, the average amount in March 2026 was 4,465.17 zlotys, while the similar bridge pension for other professions averaged 6,071.77 zlotys and was paid to 38,000 people.
Eligibility criteria for the teacher compensation benefit
To qualify, teachers must have a total professional record of at least 30 years, with a minimum of 20 years of actual teaching work. They must also be employed in an educational institution for at least half of a full-time position. The qualifying age is gradually increasing between 2014 and 2032, from 55 years to the standard retirement age. For the period 2025–2026, the benefit is available to female teachers who have reached 56 years of age and male teachers who have turned 61.
ZUS provides an online calculator on its website, enabling teachers to estimate their prospective benefit amount. This tool takes into account individual career history and contributions.
Restrictions and additional information
Teachers who receive the compensation benefit are prohibited from continuing any employment in schools, kindergartens, or educational centers, even on a part-time basis, regardless of whether they perform teaching duties. Violating this rule may result in suspension of the benefit. However, they are free to take up other work outside the education system without losing the monthly payment.
The benefit is designed as a pre-retirement support, bridging the gap until the standard pension age. It is indexed periodically and remains a key element of the social security system for educators in Poland.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. PAP/PA/Jack Taylor
