Widow’s pension is not for everyone. In such situations, ZUS refuses

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 came into force in January 2025, payments started in early July. According to the information provided to “Wprost” by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, a total of PLN 18,912.3 million was paid this year. The ministry’s estimates show that beneficiaries gained on average PLN 370 more. The number of people receiving widow’s pension is 988.8 thousand.

To receive a widow’s pension you must meet the following conditions:

• the woman is at least 60 years old and the man is at least 65 years old,

• marital partnership existed until the date of the spouse’s death,

• the right to a survivor’s pension arose no earlier than when a woman turned 55 or a man turned 60.

An additional condition is that the sum of both benefits cannot exceed three times the minimum pension. Currently, it is PLN 5,935.48 gross.

These seniors will not receive widow’s pension

The above guidelines mean that ZUS had to refuse to pay widow’s pension in many cases. – ZUS will issue a decision refusing to determine the convergence of benefits if the widow or widower fails to meet at least one of the specified conditions or if the amount of at least one of the established benefits is equal to or exceeds the limit amount, i.e. three times the amount of the lowest pension. – explains the institution.

ZUS refused to grant a widow’s pension of approximately PLN 200,000. people. As Piotr Olewiński from the ZUS press office told “Wprost”, 10.2 thousand applications were rejected in the first four months of this year alone. conclusions.

The announcement by Włodzimierz Czarzasty, Speaker of the Sejm and leader of the Left (the originator of the widow’s pension), shows that the party – if it retains power after next year’s elections – will strive to ensure that the benefit covers all widowers and widows. It is certain that from January next year, the part of the second benefit received will increase from 15%. up to 25 percent, thanks to which seniors will gain approximately PLN 500.