Background information

Inflation in Poland rapidly increased in 2022, hitting record levels since 1990s. The government decided to help pensioners. This group is especially vulnerable to shifts in the costs of living. With this measure, pensioners are paid a 14th pension. This legislation (Dz. U. 2022 poz. 1358) was announced in May 2022. Pensioners do not have to submit any applications to receive this benefit.

Content of measure

Everyone who receives a pension in Poland are eligible to receive this benefit. The 14th pension amounts to PLN 1,217.98 (€272). People who have a monthly pension between PLN 2,900 (€649) and PLN 4,188.44 (€937) will have the benefit reduced by the difference between their pension and PLN 2,900. The minimum amount of benefit that an individual can receive under this measure is PLN 50 (€11.19). This benefit is exempt from any deductions.

On 2022, the overall cost of this measure is estimated to amount to PLN 11.4 million (€2.55 million).

The minimum 14th pension in 2023 has been PLN 2,650 gross (€594.7, as of 3 November 2023) when a person draws a pension of no more than PLN 2.900 (€650.8, as of 3 November 2023) gross. Otherwise, the 14th pension will be reduced accordingly using the 'zloty for zloty' principle. The minimum amount of the 14th pension will be PLN 50 (€11.2, as of 3 November 2023).

In 2023, the cost of the 14th pension is estimated at PLN 9.8 billion (€2,2 billion, as of 3 November 2023).

Use of measure

All the pensioners eligible will receive the benefit, as the state does not require any application process for the benefit. 7.7 million people are expected to receive the benefit in full, with additional 1.2 million receiving the reduced benefit.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Pensioners

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social insurance	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Unknown.

Views and reactions

Unknown.

Sources

• 26 May 2022: Ustawa z dnia 26 maja 2022 r. o kolejnym w 2022 r. dodatkowym rocznym świadczeniu pieniężnym dla emerytów i rencistów (isap.sejm.gov.pl)
• 22 August 2023: We know the cost to the public finances of increasing the 14th pension (www.gazetaprawna.pl)