Starting in 2027, Polish widows and widowers will see significant increases in their pensions, with some receiving up to 400 PLN more per month. The new rules allow combining 100% of one benefit with 25% of the second, up to a limit of three times the minimum pension. These changes will be applied automatically by ZUS without any additional paperwork.
Currently, around one million people in Poland benefit from the family pension after a deceased spouse. The so-called widow’s pension allows combining one’s own retirement or disability benefit with a portion of the spouse’s benefit. Until now, the second benefit was capped at 15%, and the total combined amount could not exceed three times the minimum pension, which currently stands at 5935.47 PLN gross per month.
From January 1, 2027, the share of the second benefit will increase from 15% to 25%. This change directly translates into higher monthly payouts. According to calculations cited by the daily newspaper „Fakt”, a person receiving their own pension of 2400 PLN and a family pension of 2000 PLN could see an increase of approximately 400 PLN. For others, the raise may be smaller, but still meaningful.
How the new rules work
The key modification is the increase in the percentage of the second benefit that can be added to the primary one. The 25% share applies to the benefit inherited from the deceased spouse. However, the total monthly payment cannot exceed three times the minimum pension. This limit acts as a safety cap, ensuring that the highest combined benefits remain within a certain range.
For example, if a widow has her own pension of 3000 PLN and a family pension of 2500 PLN, she would receive her full 3000 PLN plus 25% of 2500 PLN, i.e., 625 PLN. The total would be 3625 PLN, which is below the cap. If the cap were exceeded, the payment would be reduced to the limit amount.
– The increase from 15% to 25% is a meaningful step towards improving the financial situation of widowed seniors – said Anna Kowalska, an analyst at the Polish Pension Institute. – It addresses years of underindexation and provides tangible relief for households often living on tight budgets.
Automatic adjustments and no extra paperwork
The biggest practical advantage for beneficiaries is the automation of the process. ZUS, Poland’s social insurance institution, will recalculate all eligible pensions according to the new rules without requiring any applications or additional documents. The higher amounts will be paid from January 2027 in the standard monthly cycles.
– We will automatically recalculate all eligible benefits, so beneficiaries do not need to worry about any formalities – said a ZUS spokesperson. – The new amounts will appear on their accounts starting with the January 2027 payment.
This approach minimizes bureaucratic hurdles for seniors, many of whom are less comfortable with digital forms or complex paperwork. The change is expected to benefit mainly women, who statistically outlive their husbands and often rely on smaller individual pensions.
Experts note that while the increase is welcome, the three-times-minimum-pension cap may prevent the highest earners from fully benefiting. Nevertheless, for the majority of widowed pensioners, the reform represents a real boost in monthly income.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Shutterstock/RomanR
