PLN 228 million for companies and PLN 42 million discontinued contributions. ZUS summed up help for flood victims

After the September flood from 2024, entrepreneurs from Lower Silesia, Opole region, Silesia and Lubuskie could take advantage of special forms of support. Until now, ZUS has paid PLN 228 million as part of intervention benefits, and also discontinued contributions worth over PLN 41.6 million. It is still possible to submit applications for the so -called housing benefit.

Heavy rains, which in September 2024 hit southwestern Poland, caused significant damage to the assets of thousands of entrepreneurs. The introduction of the state of natural disaster opened the way to launch the so -called flood act. On its basis, companies could apply for intervention benefits, postponement of payment dates or redemption of contributions. According to ZUS data, the total value of paid support exceeded several hundred million zlotys, and some of the aid instruments, including housing benefits, still remain available to the victims.

Companies received PLN 228 million from intervention benefits

After the September flood last year, ZUS implemented the provisions of the so -called flood act. On their basis, from October 5, 2024, entrepreneurs could submit applications for intervention benefit: in any plant facilities, at mobile points and online via PUE/EZUS. Applications could be submitted until March 16, 2025. The purpose of this benefit was to support companies in maintaining continuity of conducting business activity.

The intervention benefit was available in the amount that the entrepreneur indicated in the application, but in fact it could not be higher than real losses, and the amount of support was calculated on the basis of specific guidelines from the flood act. The regulations also determined the maximum level of benefit “for payment” to PLN 1 million. ZUS data shows that the highest amount requested is 2 million 848 thousand. PLN, and the lowest PLN 1200.

Entrepreneurs from the Opolskie Voivodeship transferred to ZUS branches in the region 849 applications for the payment of an intervention benefit worth PLN 110.2 million. In fact We received 2125 applications from the contributions of contribution payers from the Opolskie, Silesian, Lower Silesian and Lubuskie for an intervention benefit. Finally on bank accounts of 2036 entrepreneurs ZUS transferred over PLN 228 million – informed Sebastian Szczurek, ZUS regional spokesperson in the Opolskie Voivodeship.

The fact that the entrepreneur conducted business activity in the region covered by the flood did not automatically qualify him to obtain financial assistance as part of an intervention benefit. The payer had to meet specific conditions, including operating on September 16, 2024.

As he indicates Sebastian Szczurek, ZUS could pay the intervention benefit of the entrepreneur who has suffered a damage consisting in the loss, damage or destructiondirectly as a result of the flood, the material components of the enterprise necessary for further business activity and undertook to conduct business activity for at least 6 months from the date of receipt of the intervention benefit.

ZUS has discontinued contributions worth PLN 41.6 million

Entrepreneurs paying contributions for their own insurance could also under the flood act apply to ZUS for redemptionif they met the appropriate criteria. The redemption may have been covered by all receivables from social security contributions, health insurance, the Labor Fund, for the Solidarity Fund, for the Guaranteed Employee Benefits Fund or for the Bridging Pension Fund.

Originally, the injured could be covered by the contribution abolition for the period of August – December 2024, reminds Sebastian Szczurek and I add that Thanks to the changes in legislation in the middle of this year, entrepreneurs had the option to apply for redemption of contributions for the next months. Specifically for the time from January 1 to May 31, 2025.

In the Opole region, ZUS branches issued 262 decisions on discontinuing contributions due to contributions worth almost PLN 21.5 million. Together From Upper Silesia to the Lubuskie Voivodeship, ZUS issued 855 positive decisions to discontinue contributions on the basis of the flood act. The amount of discontinued receivables reached PLN 41.6 million.

The plant could discontinue contributions from contributions if the payer showed that due to the property status and the family situation, he was not able to pay these amounts. As the spokesman explains, it is about the situation when Payment of contributions due could deprive the entrepreneur with the possibility of continuing business. It is worth emphasizing that the period for which social security contributions have been discontinued cannot be taken into account when determining the law and the amount of pensions from social security and other benefits to which the right depends on having the required contributory and non -contributory period within the meaning of the provisions of the Act on pensions and pensions from the Social Insurance Fund.

Nearly half a thousand entrepreneurs have benefited from the extension of contributions

Further support enabled entrepreneurs from the floods covered by the postponement of payments of public and legal obligations. On this basis, it was possible to pay contributions for the period from August 1 to December 31, 2024, by September 15, 2025. The contributions paid in this way are not charged interest for late payment. Payers were only obliged to make a special statement that they had suffered by the flood.

489 applications were submitted to the Opole ZUS branches for the establishment of a new payment date. In 465 cases, ZUS has agreed, a The amount of contributions with a deferred payment date in the region is almost PLN 24.4 million. Companies and employers who suffered through the water were obliged to pay contributions between mid -March and September 15 this year – said Sebastian Szczurek.

To sum up, in accordance with the Act on the Social Insurance System, entrepreneurs could use the following four forms of support in the field of contribution payment:

• installments of contributions with deferred payments of the first,
• changes in the terms of the contract for distribution in installments due to contributions consisting in suspending the repayment of installments for a specified period of time,
• changes in the terms of the contract for postponing the payment date of contributions consisting in extending the postponement of the payment date by a specified period of time,
• redemption of receivables due to contributions due for persons paying contributions for their own insurance.

A representative of the ZUS press office also points out that additional two options were available. Pursuant to the Act on special solutions related to the removal of the effects of floods, entrepreneurs could apply for: Determining a new payment date for social security and health insurance as well as other contributions to which the Social Insurance Institution and the redemption of receivables are required, including payments already paid, from social and health insurance contributions, Labor Fund, Solidarity Fund, Guaranteed Employee Benefits Fund or for Bridging Power Professional Fund.

In all voivodships covered by nand the area of ​​part of the provinces: Dolnośląskie, Lubuskie, Opolskie and Silesia. According to ZUS data, including the company 3453 Applications for support in the field of contribution payment. Most applications (1862) concerned the setting of a new payment date. According to the plant, single applications are still awaiting consideration.

ZUS still performs a housing benefit

The housing benefit is intended for the owners of the rooms, which they rented for the needs of conducting business activity, and the premises have been destroyed. The purpose of this benefit is support in the renovation of the premises or removing damage to material fixed assets, which constitute the equipment of the premises, have been made available to the entrepreneurs under the lease agreement and are the property of the landlord. Money can be used to cover the costs of renovation or removal of damages resulting from floods from the day following the day on which it occurred.

To use the housing benefit, you must submit an application of the RSL (application for housing benefits intended for the repair of damage resulting from this premises as a result of a flood). Applications for a one -off housing benefit can be submitted from June 17 to September 30, 2025. Documents should be submitted in the form of:

• Electronic on your PUE/EZUS profile, as a general magazine of PAT, to which you will attach a request for housing benefits (RSL);
• paper version of the application (RSL) in each ZUS facility or send it by post.

According to the press office of the Social Insurance Institution, on September 12, 2025 to ZUS 30 applications were received. A total of the applicant was paid in the amount of just over PLN 1.16 million.

The plant reminds that a natural person, the owner or co -owner of the premises for a different purpose than the apartment, can apply for a benefit, if in August 2024 he rented this premises of the entrepreneur on the basis of a lease agreement for the purposes of conducting business activity.

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