What is widow's pension? Rules, limits and upcoming changes

What is widow's pension?

The widow's pension came into force on January 1, 2025. This allows you to combine a survivor's pension from your deceased spouse and your own pension benefit.

One of them must be a survivor's pension after the deceased spouse.

In mid-August, ZUS reported that in June 2026, 993.4 thousand people received widow's pension benefits. people. Since the beginning of the program, approximately 1.1 million widows and widowers have received at least one payment. In the first half of 2026, over PLN 22.8 billion was allocated for benefits.

An important change from January 1, 2027

Currently, eligible persons can receive one full benefit and 15 percent. the second.

From January 1, 2027, the share of the second benefit will increase to 25%.

The average payment of widow's pension benefits in June amounted to PLN 3,949.43. The average amount resulting from the addition of 15 percent. the second benefit is PLN 379.10.

Who is entitled to a widow's pension?

The right to a widow's pension is granted to a widow or widower who: reached retirement age - 60 years in the case of women and 65 years in the case of men, remained in the marital community until the death of the spouse, acquired the right to a survivor's pension after the deceased spouse no earlier than after the woman turned 55 years old or the man turned 60 years old, and are not currently married.

The right to combine benefits only applies to the survivor's pension of the last deceased spouse. If the entitled person marries again, he or she will lose the right to receive concurrent benefits, i.e. to combine his or her own benefit with the survivor's pension.

ZUS may reduce the payment

The regulations specify the maximum amount of benefits paid in conjunction with survivor's pension. The sum of benefits cannot exceed three times the minimum pension. Currently, it is PLN 5,935.47 gross.

If the total amount of benefits exceeds this limit, ZUS will reduce the payment by the amount exceeded.