Changes in widow’s pension are getting closer. Not everyone will benefit

A widow’s pension is a combination of two benefits: your own benefit (e.g. old-age pension or disability pension) and a survivor’s pension after your deceased spouse. We are talking about the so-called overlap of benefits. People who have lost their spouse can receive one benefit in full and the other at 15%.

Although the widow’s pension was introduced in January 2025, payments started in July. As recently reported by the Social Insurance Institution, the benefit was provided to almost one million seniors last year.

Widow’s pension will increase. Not everyone will feel the changes

It is estimated that beneficiaries gained an additional PLN 370 on average. From next year there will be more of this money, which is related to the fact that from January 2027, the share of the second benefit will be increased to 25%. Seniors will gain on average PLN 500-600. — The benefit in the converted amount will be paid in January 2027, within the existing payment dates – ZUS press office reports “Fakt”.

The institution will automatically calculate the benefits included in the widow’s pension.

Let us recall that one of the conditions for receiving a widow’s pension is that the sum of both benefits cannot exceed three times the minimum pension. Currently, it is PLN 5,935.48 gross. — If the benefit determined in the new percentage exceeds the established limit (i.e. three times the applicable amount of the lowest pension), ZUS will limit the benefits paid at the same time to the amount of the limit – informs ZUS.

This means that some widows and widowers will not notice much change in their portfolio or will not receive more money at all.

The mentioned limit will change not at the beginning of next year, but only in March, with the indexation of pensions. Current forecasts show that the increase will amount to 3.48%, which would mean that the threshold may increase to PLN 6,142.00.