From the first days of January, elderly people come to ZUS offices. This is a new benefit – widow’s pension. Applications can be submitted already, but the money is due from July 1st, so there is plenty of time to submit the documents. Therefore, officials ask that you plan your visit for later – do not wait in line, because there is a lot of interest.
The first days of January showed that there is a lot of interest in the new allowance, and for several days old people have been writing applications to receive the widow’s pension.
– Everyone wants to come today, find out, apply. We encourage you not to come because you were near ZUS, but to come on a specific day and time, it is better to make an appointment through PUE ZUS – encourages Marlena Nowicka, spokeswoman for ZUS in Greater Poland Voivodeship.
You have six months to complete the documents, as the benefit will be issued only from July. – It doesn’t matter whether we submit the application in January, February or May, the benefit will be granted only from July 1 without compensation for the previous months – emphasizes Monika Kielczynska, spokeswoman for ZUS in Lodz Voivodeship.
However, seniors prefer not to postpone it until later. There has been a lot of interest in offices for a few days now. – The earlier, the better, because it is possible to forget later, – admits one of the elderly. – I’m not sure if I meet the criteria or if my pension is high, that’s why I joined, – says another old man.
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The possibility of combining interests
A widow’s pension is a big cash injection for many seniors. – If I get 150 PLN, it is a lot for me, if I didn’t have children, it would be very difficult for me, – admits another old man.
About half a million people in Poland receive the lowest pension, which is just over PLN 1,600. The average amount of pension is 3500 PLN.
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– This is a program that did not exist before and it is primarily aimed at the needy, it will be a real support. Today we can say that on average each such case or each household can receive from 700 PLN to 1000 PLN per month – says Dr. Hab. Yaroslav Korpysa, economist of Szczecin University.
This is a significant help when the elderly are left alone. It is difficult for them to live on one pension. From July, two benefits can be combined.
An adult should choose which is more profitable – 100% of the deceased wife’s interest and 15% of his own interest, or vice versa – 100% of his interest and 15% of the additional interest of the wife.
– These allowances can be given in the so-called mixed locality, and earlier this was the right to one benefit, that is, your own benefit or the benefit of your deceased spouse, – reports the representative of ZUS in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Krzysztof Cieszynski.
The report is surprising. Two and a half million Poles live in extreme poverty Martina Olkovic/Facti po Poludniu TVN24
Who is entitled to widow’s pension?
There are also conditions. – In order to receive the right to a widow’s pension, you have already received two benefits, one of which is the survivor’s pension after the deceased spouse and the other must be your personal pension: the long-term pension benefit, it can. For example, a pension or an annuity – explains Monika Kielczynska.
This is where age comes into play. – At the time of the death of the spouse, the woman must be 55 years old, the man must be 60 years old, – informs Kelchinska.
In addition, you must be 60 for women and 65 for men to receive a widow’s pension, and you cannot remarry.
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There is also a maximum amount. – If your allowance, the pension we receive at the moment, is more than three times the minimum pension, i.e. 5342.88 PLN in total, – says Marlena Nowicka, you are not entitled to a widow’s pension.
Widow’s pension – what conditions must be met?gov.pl
So some refused. The widow’s pension is intended to ensure the financial situation of the needy. The profit will increase in the following years.
– From January 1, 2027, this share of 15 percent of the second allowance will increase, and then the Social Insurance Institution will pay 25 percent of the allowance of the widow or widower or 25 percent of the widow’s pension of the deceased spouse, – says Krzysztof Sisinski.
Main photo source: TVN24
