The Polish government is finalising a regulation that will see this year’s 14th pension paid out in September, alongside regular benefits. The one-off bonus will be higher than in 2025, reaching 1,978.49 PLN gross, and again no separate application will be required.
The draft regulation is currently under consultation. As in previous years, beneficiaries do not need to submit any additional documents to receive the payment. The 14th pension is tied to the amount of the minimum pension, which in 2026 stands at 1,978.49 PLN gross, compared to 1,878.91 PLN a year ago.
Who qualifies for the full amount?
Not everyone will receive the full 1,978.49 PLN. The full bonus is granted only to persons whose pension or disability benefit does not exceed 2,900 PLN gross. Above that threshold, the „zloty for zloty” rule applies, meaning that for every extra zloty of regular income, the 14th pension is reduced by one zloty. The benefit is available to recipients of old-age pensions, disability pensions, survivor’s pensions, social pensions, pre-retirement benefits and teacher’s compensatory allowances.
The payment is scheduled for September and takes into account all persons eligible as of 31 August. Those who obtain the right to the benefit after that date will not receive it. The mechanism mirrors last year’s arrangement and spares beneficiaries any administrative burden.
Who is excluded from the 14th pension?
Despite its broad scope, the 14th pension does not cover everyone. Retired judges and prosecutors in active service, as well as persons receiving an Olympic pension, are explicitly excluded from the programme. The government has not provided a detailed justification for these exclusions, but they remain consistent with earlier years.
The draft regulation is still being reviewed by relevant authorities. Its final adoption is expected before the September payment date. The total estimated cost of the 2026 14th pension for the state budget has not yet been officially disclosed, but it is expected to be higher than last year due to the increased minimum pension base.
Źródło: wnp.pl, Fot. PAP/Paweł Supernak
