Social pensions

The social pension is payable to an adult, who has been recognised as completely incapable of work due to impairment of body functions which occurred before reaching the age of 18 years or 25 years if he/she was in the course of education at school or an institution of tertiary education. It is also payable if the impairment of body functions occurred in the course of doctoral studies or academic post-graduate studies.

The right to a social pension may be granted on a permanent or temporary basis. If ZUS evaluating doctor or ZUS medical board state in their medical decision that complete incapacity for work is permanent, a permanent social pension is awarded to the beneficiary. If it is stated that complete incapacity for work is of a temporary character – a temporary social pension is awarded (for a period indicated in ZUS decision). If the person concerned wishes to extend his/her social pension period, he/she should apply for the reconsideration of the right to this benefit.

The social pension equals 100% of the amount of the minimum pension payable in respect of complete incapacity for work, i.e. PLN 1,250.88. The entitlement to the social pension is suspended by ZUS if the entitled person reached in a given month an income exceeding 70% of the average monthly wage/salary for a previous calendar quarter, announced by the President of the Central Statistical Office.

Decisions on granting social pensions are issued and benefits are paid by ZUS, but these benefits are financed by the state budget.

In the case of an overlapping of entitlement to the social pension with an entitlement to the survivors’ pension, the social pension amount is reduced by ZUS to ensure that the total amount of both benefits does not exceed 200% of the minimum pension for a complete incapacity for work, i.e. PLN 2,501.76, with the reservation that the minimum social pension may not be lower than 10% of the minimum pension for a complete incapacity for work, i.e. PLN 125.09. The social pension is not payable if the amount of the survivors’ pension exceeds 200% of the minimum pension in respect of complete incapacity for work.

In 2019, ZUS paid out social pensions to 283.2 thousand persons in a total amount of PLN 3,757.2 million.