Bridging Pensions’ Fund
14 March 2025
The right to the bridging pension is acquired by the insured person who meets jointly the following conditions:
- was born after 31 December 1948,
- has completed a period of employment in special conditions or in special character of at least 15 years,
- has reached at least the age of 55 years (woman) or 60 years (man),
- his or her (contributory and non-contributory) insurance period is at least 20 years for a woman and 25 years for a man,
- after 31 December 2008 has performed work in special conditions or of special character.
The amount of the bridging pension is determined by ZUS in a similar way as the amount of the old-age pension awarded under the new rules. However, the average life expectancy for people aged 60 is always used, regardless of when the insured person actually retired.
The right to the bridging pension ceases the day before the insured person becomes entitled to a general old-age pension. If the person entitled to the bridging pension does not have the right to the old-age pension, his or her right to the bridging pension ceases on the day before he or she reaches the retirement age.
The bridging pensions are financed mainly from the state budget. Part of the costs are covered by employers’ contributions to the Bridging Pension Fund.
In 2023, ZUS paid bridging pensions to an average of 40.5 thousand retired persons. The average amount of such a pension was PLN 4,580.68.
The bridging old-age pensions expenditure in 2023 was PLN 2,225,705.8 thousand.
