1800 PLN, when you are close to retirement. Who is eligible for the ZUS benefit?

Pre-retirement allowance is a benefit granted to people who lose their jobs for reasons beyond their control before they become eligible for retirement. Although they cannot be dismissed during the pre-retirement period (for women, the protection period begins at the age of 56, for men – 61), there are situations in which the company cannot meet its obligation because it has been liquidated or declared bankrupt.

Other situations in which an employee during the protection period may apply for pre-retirement benefit are:

• loss of the right to a disability pension.

• giving up work to care for a disabled family member.

The pre-retirement allowance is intended to provide social support to people who cannot find work but will be entitled to a pension within a few years anyway.

Who can apply for pre-retirement benefit?

The following persons are entitled to apply for pre-retirement benefit:

• persons who were employed under an employment contract and whose contract was terminated for reasons related to the workplace;

• persons who ran non-agricultural business activities and declared bankruptcy;

• persons who received a disability pension;

• persons who received a care benefit or a special care allowance or a carer’s allowance due to the death of the person they were caring for.

Pre-retirement allowance – conditions

Article 2, section 3 of the Act on Pre-retirement Benefits specifies the conditions that must be met to receive this benefit. Thus, it is available to a person who:

• received unemployment benefits for at least 180 days,

• is still registered as unemployed,

• during the period of receiving benefits, she did not refuse to accept suitable employment without justification,

• submitted an application for pre-retirement benefit within 30 days from the date of issue by the district labor office of a certificate of 180 days of receiving unemployment benefits,

• submitted an application within 30 days of termination of employment, including as part of intervention work or public works, if during the period of receiving unemployment benefits she performed other gainful employment within the meaning of the Employment Promotion Act,

• ·submitted an application within 30 days of termination of employment as part of intervention work or public works, if the performance of one of these works ceased after the expiry of the 180-day period of receiving unemployment benefits.

How much is the pre-retirement allowance?

In 2024, the pre-retirement benefit is PLN 1,794.70 gross. Its amount is determined annually on the basis of the Act on Pre-retirement Benefits. The pre-retirement benefit is subject to periodic indexation, which is carried out on the principles and within the deadlines provided for in the aforementioned Act.

A person who has been refused a benefit by ZUS may appeal to the district court – the labour and social insurance court with jurisdiction over the place of residence.