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They are becoming an increasingly important element of the social security system in Poland. In the face of rising living costs, especially expenditure on drugs and energy, they constitute a significant complement to basic pension benefits. Each pensioner should carefully read his benefits to fully use the available financial support.
System In 2025, it includes both benefits paid automatically to all authorized persons and those requiring the appropriate application. It is worth remembering that some of them are directed to specific groups of seniors that meet specific criteria. Below we present a detailed review of the most important additions that pensioners can count on after 65 years of age.
“Thirteenth Pension” – support for all pensioners
The thirteenth pension is an additional benefit, which in 2025 will amount to PLN 1884.61 gross (PLN 1528.26 net). It is paid annually in April, and most importantly – all pensioners are entitled to, regardless of the amount of the basic benefit. Income tax (12 %) and health contribution (9 %) are deducted from the gross amount.
This benefit has been operating continuously since 2019 and is a significant complement to the household budget of seniors.
“Fourteenth Pension” – additional support with restrictions
Unlike the “thirteen”, the amount of the fourteenth pension depends on the amount of the retirement and disability benefit received. The principle of “zloty for PLN” applies here when the threshold of PLN 2,900 of a monthly pension is exceeded.
Important restrictions:
- Each zloty above PLN 2,900 reduces the amount of “fourteen”
- The supplement is not granted if its amount was less than PLN 50
- Persons receiving a benefit higher than PLN 4,734.61 are not entitled to the fourteenth pension
Free drugs for seniors – significant changes in 2025
Seniors over 65 have access to free drugs from the so -called “S” letters. It includes medicinal products most often used to treat the elderly, including Drugs for:
- hypertension
- diabetes
- painkillers
- Preparations used in digestive system diseases
- Ophthalmology and neurological drugs
In 2025, favorable changes were introduced in the provisions regarding prescriptions. Currently, every doctor – regardless of having a contract with the National Health Fund – may issue a prescription “S” for a free medicine. Earlier, only doctors receiving patients under the NFZ could do this.
In addition, the rights to issue such prescriptions were received by:
- nurses
- midwives
- felczerz (within the scope of their competences)
- Pharmacists (they can issue prescriptions for reimbursed vaccines available in pharmacies)
I appreciate the free medicine program the most. I save about PLN 200 a month for hypertension and diabetes. It is a pity that doctors do not inform about the possibility of writing a prescription with the letter ‘S’ – I always have to remind you. ‘Thirteen’ is also a lot of support, thanks to it this year I replaced the windows in the apartment – Janusz, 71 years old, a resident of a medium city in the province Mazowieckie
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Care allowance – support for dependent people
The care allowance is:
- women over 60 and men over 65, who has a certificate from ZUS with incapacity for work and independent existence
- to all people over 75 years of age (without having to meet additional conditions)
In 2025, as a result of valorisation, the amount of the allowance will increase from PLN 330.07 to PLN 348.31 per month.
Attention! The supplement is not entitled to seniors staying in the care and treatment plant (ZOL) or the Care and Care Plant (ZPO) over 2 weeks a month.
Energy lump sum – for selected groups of pensioners
Some groups of pensioners may apply for an energy lump sum (ZUS-ERK). This benefit is entitled to:
- veterans
- to repressed people
- widows or widowers after a lump sum
In 2025, the lump sum will increase from PLN 299.82 to PLN 312.71. The new height will apply from March 1.
See also:
Mama 4+ – support for large parents
The parental supplementary benefit “Mama 4+” is addressed to parents (both mothers and fathers) who brought up at least four children from this and did not take up work or it was impossible.
The benefit is granted to persons who:
- They did not acquire the right to a pension
- Their retirement benefit is lower than the lowest pension
In the absence of the right to a pension, the benefit is the equivalent of the lowest pension (PLN 1790.96 gross, i.e. PLN 1406 net by data for 2024). This amount is subject to annual valorisation.
The requirement of raising children includes:
- own children
- spouse’s children
- adopted children
- children accepted for upbringing as part of a foster family (except for a professional foster family)
The application can be submitted to ZUS or KRUS branches.
I raised five children and I use the ‘Mama 4+’ program. I’ve been dealing with home and children all my life, so I didn’t develop a pension. If it wasn’t for this benefit, I wouldn’t have any income. It is a huge support for me, although the amount could be higher, taking into account the rising costs of living – Maria, 67 years old, small town in the province Silesian
Benefit for former soldiers employed
A supplement of PLN 330.07 (subject to annual valorisation) is:
- Soldiers of substitute military service forcibly employed in 1949-1959 in coal mines, quarries or uranium ore acquisition plants;
- Soldiers from conscription in 1949 incorporated into the brigades “Service of Poland” and forced in coal mines and quarries;
- For forced people in construction battalions in 1949-1959.
Retirement reviews – a varied approach to supplements
As the statements of seniors show, the assessment of the pension allowance system is varied:
Teresa, 69 years old, a village in the province Podkarpackie: “I have been using the add -ons for three years. The most useful ‘thirteen’, which I put aside for the winter, when expenses for heating grow drastically. Unfortunately, I do not use ‘fourteen’, because I have too high retirement after 42 years of work as a teacher
Stefan, 78 years old, a large city in the province Pomeranian: “My wife and I use a care supplement, which we are entitled to automatically after 75 years of age. It is 348 zlotys, which we allocate mainly for drugs and rehabilitation. If it wasn’t for this support, we would have to give up some treatments. However, I believe that this amount should be much higher, taking into account the actual health care costs for people of our age.”
Krystyna, 66 years old, medium city in the province Wielkopolski: “I have been using the free medicine program recently, but I can already see how much it helps in the household budget. I am only worried that pharmacists often do not know which medicines are on the ‘S’ list add -ons. “
Zygmunt, 82 years old, a village in the province Lublin: “As a veteran I use the energy lump sum. This amount may seem small, but with my limited income, each additional support is at a premium. Together with the care supplement, it gives me over PLN 650 a month extra, which with my retirement of just over PLN 2,000 is a significant difference.”
It is worth remembering that the use of some additions requires submitting the appropriate application, so it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the detailed rules for granting them to the local ZUS branch.
