Seniors want an addition to their pensions for raising children. Donald Tusk's government responds
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One of such people is Mrs. Anna from Łódź, a 72-year-old retired teacher, whose statement was quoted by the portal infor.pl. She receives PLN 2,900 in pension, and her two children work in Warsaw. — Did we really raise children for free for this country? – he asks with tears in his eyes. — We raised Poland for free.
Supplement for seniors. What would it look like?
Seniors do not demand payment of outstanding money for past years. The proposal is simpler: from now on, PLN 800 per month for each raised child who works in the country. With one child it would be PLN 400 for the mother and father. The demand even appeared in the Sejm.
In October 2025, PiS MP Urszula Rusecka asked: — If there is Mom 4 plus, why isn't there at least a symbolic allowance for parents of two or three children? The chairwoman of the KO committee then admitted: We understand seniors' feeling of injustice.
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Law and money against seniors
Hopes were quickly dampened by the opinion of the Sejm Expertise Office. Experts pointed to the principle of non-retroactivity and verification problemswho actually raised the child. There were also doubts about divorced families and children living abroad.
The government's position is clear. A representative of the Ministry of Family stated: — “The pension system is based on years of contributions, not on raising children“. The courts ruled similarly. The Provincial Administrative Court in Olsztyn found that the 800+ benefit is for the child, not the parent, and the court in Łódź emphasized that the condition is cohabitation, which is no longer the case in the case of adult children.
Costly justice
Economists estimate that implementing the proposal would cost the budget approximately PLN 12 billion annually. This raises questions about intergenerational justice. Should current workers finance 800+ for their children and additional benefits for their parents at the same time? For many seniors, the answer is simple: it's not just about money, but a symbolic “thank you” from the state. However, for now, everything indicates that 800 plus for retirees will remain only a postulate and not a real program.
