How little! The 13th and 14th pensions will not change much in 2027

Although today it is difficult to imagine the payment of only twelve benefits from ZUS per year, additional pensions have a very short history in Poland. Thirteen was introduced in 2019 as a one-off benefit under the “Pension +” program. Only since 2020 has it been a permanent pension supplement.

The fourteenth pension was introduced in 2021 as support for seniors with lower benefits. Initially, it was announced as a one-off benefit, but in 2023 the “fourteenth pension” was also permanently introduced into the Polish pension system.

The 13th and 14th pensions have a different purpose. Pensioners know in advance how they will spend their money

Seniors quickly incorporated both benefits into their household budgets. Each of them has its own separate purpose. The Senior 2025 report prepared by Fakt shows that in the case of thirteen-year-olds, 28 percent respondents answered that they would spend this money on a holiday trip.

Every fifth senior intends to spend this money on medicines. 26 percent indicates, however, that this benefit from ZUS will be used, for example, for a dentist, the purchase of new glasses, car payments, for the purchase of fuel or to cover heating bills (16%), as security for a “rainy day” and for saving (12%), and 12% will spend it on life, i.e. food or current purchases. retirees. 7 percent respondents want to pay off their debts in this way.

Fourteen-year-olds, in turn, are more often spent on medicines (13%), trips (11%) or the purchase of new clothes (8%).

Pensioners will not go crazy in 2027. Fourteen for a small pool of people

In 2027, the difference in the amount of these benefits compared to 2026 will be small. Government forecasts show that the indexation of ZUS benefits will amount to only 3.48%.

Although the state budget will consume as much as PLN 16.7 billion, and the payment of the 13th and 14th pensions will consume as much as PLN 33 billion, the difference in the portfolio will be small. On March 1, 2027, the lowest pension will increase by only PLN 68.85 – to PLN 2,047.34 gross.

Every retiree and disability pensioner will receive PLN 13, regardless of their basic earnings. The gross amount will be the same as the new minimum pension – PLN 2,047.34. The lowest possible take-home payment of the 13th pension will amount to PLN 1,617.8 next year.

Receiving the fourteenth pension will still depend on the income criterion. People whose basic benefit does not exceed PLN 2,900 gross will receive the full allowance. Above this threshold, the “PLN for PLN” principle applies. The minimum amount of fourteen will be PLN 50 gross – approximately PLN 39 per hand.

Since the income criterion has not increased for years, the pool of people who will receive the 14th pension in 2027 will be even smaller than in 2026.