So far, over 1 million 79 thousand have been received by ZUS. applications for a widow's pension. 88 percent They were made up of women, and 12 percent Men – results from the presented ZUS information on the implementation of the Wdowiej pension act.
Information on the implementation of the Wdowiej pension act was presented during the Thursday press breakfast at the headquarters of the Social Insurance Institution.
The widow's pension is combined benefits, one of which is a survivor's pension. You can receive 100 percent as a widow's pension. own benefits (pensions or disability) and 15 percent benefits for the deceased spouse or vice versa. This is defined as a coincidence.
According to data from the factory that So far, over 1 million 79 thousand have been received by ZUS. applications for a widow's pension. Most of them were submitted in the following voivodships: Śląskie, Mazowieckie and Greater Poland, and the least in the following voivodships: Podlasie, Lubuskie and Opolskie. 88 percent Women submitted all applications, and 12 percent men.
The most numerous group of applicants (over 311,000 applications until July 31, 2025) were people aged 81 to 90. Of all applicants, over 73.3 percent (over 784,000 people) are people from 71 to 90 years old. A total of 187 centenaries submitted for a widow's pension. The youngest applicant was less than 22 years old – he did not meet the basic criterion to obtain the right to a widow, which is to reach retirement age. The oldest applicant was a woman aged 106.
The information shows that for women in 69 percent Cases of benefits have a construction: 100 percent survivors' pensions and 15 percent own benefitand in the case of men, such a fugitive applies to 27 percent. cases. ZUS president Zbigniew Derdziuk explained that such a structure results from the construction of benefits – because men, having a higher statutory retirement age, most often have a higher amount of their own benefit.
The maximum amount of widow's pension may amount to 5,000. 636 PLN 73 gross gross (i.e. three times the lowest pension). In the case of applicable women, limiting the amount of benefits to this amount was used in 5 percent. cases, and in the case of men in 8 percent
In the period from October 2024 to July 2025, ZUS also received over 420 thousand. applications for the right to a survivor's pension or your own benefit that would entitle you to obtain a widow. Nearly 380 thousand of them concerned a survivor's pension.
From the beginning of the implementation of the Act, ZUS has issued refusal decisions against 94 thousand. applications. Most – 40 thousand – due to exceeding the maximum amount. In 24.4 thousand cases of refusal was related to the acquisition of the right to a survivor's pension after a deceased spouse earlier than 5 years before reaching the universal retirement age. The reason for a total of over 34.5 thousand there was a lack of right to a survivor's pension or to your own benefit. There were also refusals related to not being married until the day of the spouse's death, the conclusion of a new marriage or not having a universal retirement age.
Director of the Department of Pension Benefits at ZUS Bartosz Gaca announced that in 93 percent. Refusing decisions were related to one reason. In two cases – as he said – there were five reasons for the refusal.
Until July 31, ZUS launched widow's payments for over 755 thousand. people. The total amount of payment of benefits in the intersection with a survivor's pension amounted to PLN 2 billion 433 million (of which the amount of benefits paid in 15 % is PLN 264.4 million). The average increase in monthly payment was about PLN 353.94.
The President of ZUS admitted that the acceptance and examination of applications for a widow was a logistic challenge for the plant. To this end, among others New software for handling applications. In addition, in connection with overtime worked by employees, ZUS spent about PLN 23 million on additional tasks. The president also reported that less than 5 percent applications were submitted in electronic form.
ZUS is one of the institutions that pay the combined benefits. It will handle about 90 percent all widow pensions. Other pension bodies that accept conclusions are: the Fund of the Agricultural Social Insurance (KRUS), the Prison Service Office (BESW), the Military Retirement Bureau (WBE) and the Pension Institution of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (Zero Ministry of Interior and Administration).
Some of the authorized persons will receive a benefit from two institutions: from ZUS and with another pension body. Such customers will receive two payments in different dates in one month. These people will receive one decision – from the institution that will pay them 15 percent. benefits. The second institution will inform them that it will continue to pay them the existing benefit of 100 percent.
If one of the benefits in the intersection with a survivor's pension pays another pension body, ZUS will start withdrawals after the end of the proceedings with this institution. The Widow of ZUS will pay such pensions on the 6th day of each month. Parallel to the payment of benefits, ZUS also sends refusal decisions.
In order for ZUS to pay a widow, the applicant must meet all four conditions in total. A woman should be at least 60 years old, and a man – at least 65 years, to the day of the death of the spouse, remain in marriage, not be married and acquire the right to a survivor's pension after the deceased spouse no earlier than on the day of 55 years (women) and 60 years old (men).
ZUS will refuse to determine the intersection of benefits if the widow or widower does not meet at least one of the indicated conditions or if the amount of at least one of the benefits is equal to the limit, i.e. three times the amount of the lowest pension, or exceeds it.
You can appeal to the court against the ZUS decision regarding the Widowiej pension. (PAP)
kbl/ joz/ mhr/
