A raise without a conversation with the boss. This is how the little -known option in PPK works

Employee capital plans are a program that is entered automatically, but participation is voluntary. More and more people see the benefits of staying in the system, treating it as a form of additional remuneration from the employer. Within a few years, Poles accumulated PLN 37 billion in PPK, and they have already saved nearly 4 million employees.

You don’t have to give up PPK

Despite this, few employees with low earnings know that they do not have to give up the program to increase their net income. Instead, they can reduce their premium up to 0.5 percent. And still receive a full payment of the employer and an annual subsidy from the state. Only a few thousand people use this option – in 2024 an average of 3.4 thousand, and in the record January 2022 4.3 thousand.

According to the regulations, people who earn less than 120 percent are entitled to a reduction in the premium. minimum wage, which currently means a threshold of PLN 5599. With this income, the PPK participant can pay only PLN 25 per month, while the employer adds PLN 75. In addition, PLN 240 is entitled to an annual subsidy from the state budget. As a result, at a low own cost, the employee gains even over PLN 1,200 a year.

Few use

However, PFR PPK data shows that the privilege is used by a small group, and this number has a downward trend. The reasons may be different – lack of knowledge, pressure from some employers or the need to maximize income “here and now”, especially among people living “from the first to the first”.

According to OPZZ, in small businesses employees are often discouraged from participating in the program, while in large organizations with trade unions the situation looks better. Experts emphasize that despite PPK problems, it can be an attractive complement to the future pension, especially since the funds can be paid at any time, although with partial loss of bonuses.