The changes will be introduced in stages. From the beginning of 2026, they will cover employers from the public finance sector, and from May 1, 2026 – all others.
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What contracts can be added to the length of service?
The length of service will include, among others: periods of running a business, working under a mandate or agency contract, cooperation in such contracts, as well as membership in agricultural cooperatives. will also be included periods of personal care of the child, if pension and disability insurance contributions were paid for this time.
The new regulations will also cover: persons who worked abroad on a basis other than an employment relationship, provided they were covered by appropriate insurance.
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ZUS will issue certificates confirming some of these periods – mainly when a given person was registered for retirement and disability insurance or paid contributions.. You will be able to submit an application for such a document only electronically via an account in eZUS, on a special USP form.
If the insured person's account does not contain the appropriate data, ZUS will issue a negative decision. In such a situation, it will be possible to submit an application for an investigation procedure together with documents confirming the period of employment or activity.
ZUS warns: beware of exceptions
ZUS emphasizes that will not issue certificates for periods in which a given person performed, e.g., a contract of mandate, but was also a student and was not subject to retirement and disability insurance.
People who want to confirm periods before January 1, 1999 must use a different form – US-7. Such data is not saved in the electronic accounts of the insured persons.
The new regulations are intended to increase the fairness of the system and ensure that seniority better reflects actual professional activity, not just years worked in a full-time job.
