There are fewer and fewer accident pensions in Poland. ZUS explains why

An accident pension is a benefit granted by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) to people who have completely or partially lost the ability to work as a result of an accident at work or an occupational disease.

The number of accident pensions has decreased significantly

The latest data published by ZUS show that the number of people receiving accident pensions has decreased significantly over the last decade. – The latest data show that the number of accident pensions in Poland is regularly decreasing. In 2025, they were downloaded by 123.3 thousand. people, almost 1/3 less than a decade ago (180.5 thousand in 2016). This gives a decrease of 57.2 thousand. people – writes ZUS on the X platform.

ZUS reveals that the largest group of beneficiaries are people with occupational diseases. These include:

• infectious and parasitic diseases (including tuberculosis, AIDS, Lyme disease),

• skin diseases (including allergic contact dermatitis),

• pneumoconiosis (including asbestosis and coal pneumoconiosis),

• diseases caused by chemical agents,

• respiratory diseases (including occupational asthma, allergic alveolitis),

• diseases caused by radiation (including chronic skin lesions),

• occupational cancers,

• occupational diseases of the musculoskeletal system,

• neurological diseases.

There were 58.7 thousand people receiving pensions due to occupational diseases in 2025, while in 2016 – 90.3 thousand. Slightly less, 57.2 thousand. these are beneficiaries who have suffered an accident at work. Here, too, there was a decrease compared to 2016 (78.4 thousand pensions were paid then). Significantly less, only 7.5 thousand. benefits are related to an accident on the way to/from work (a decade ago there were 11.8 thousand of them).

– Seniors dominate among people receiving accident benefits. More than 2/3 are at least 70 years old, and the average age of the beneficiary is 73.9 years – informs ZUS.

Where do the declines come from?

The institution explains that the decreasing number of accident pensioners was probably influenced by several factors at the same time. In recent years, the number of accidents at work has been decreasing, the safety culture in enterprises is growing, and employers are increasingly implementing solutions to reduce occupational risk. As a result, fewer people experience lasting health effects that lead to the award of an accident pension.