Senior, be careful! ZUS will automatically reject these applications

The Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) has issued a warning to retirees who plan to submit applications for a recalculation of the amount of their benefits. As emphasized, such action is pointless if the applicant does not provide new documents confirming periods of work or earnings. Otherwise, ZUS will automatically reject each such application.

When can ZUS calculate your pension?

ZUS provides for the possibility of recalculating the pension, but only in certain situations. This applies to cases where the pensioner finds new documents that were not previously included in the process of granting the benefit. These documents may confirm additional periods of insurance or earnings obtained both before and after the pension was granted.

“If the pensioner does not have any new evidence that could affect the amount of the benefit, submitting an application is groundless,” says Iwona Kowalska-Matis, regional spokesperson of ZUS in Lower Silesia, in an interview with the Rynek Zdrowia portal.

What documents are needed?

In order for the pension conversion application to be considered positively, the pensioner must provide certain documents. The most important of them include:

• Employment certificates
• Employment and salary certificates

In the absence of these documents, ZUS accepts the so-called residual evidence, such as:

• Insurance cards with entries on employment and salary

• Employment contracts

• Payrolls from the archives

• Military books or certificates from the military reinforcement command

Additionally, it is possible to confirm child care periods based on copies of birth certificates. Students who completed their studies before 1999 may submit a university certificate, diploma or student record book.

Initial capital and years of work before 1999

For people who worked before 1999, it is crucial to provide documents confirming employment and earnings. Before 1999, ZUS did not maintain individual accounts of insured persons, therefore all contributions were paid collectively. Currently, these documents are necessary to determine the initial capital, which affects the amount of the pension.

In the absence of complete documentation, ZUS recommends searching for evidence in archives, former workplaces or units storing documents of liquidated companies. Even if such actions do not bring results, you can use the testimony of witnesses – preferably former colleagues.