The care allowance is real financial support for seniors, and its payment covers up to PLN 50,000-55,000. new people per month. This applies to seniors who turn 75 and will gain automatic access to money from ZUS. This means hundreds of millions of zlotys annually from the state budget.
As “Gazeta Prawna” reminds, the system of granting additional benefits has its limitations. As a result, not every 75-year-old will receive the benefit, and the rules for granting it can be a source of confusion.
Care allowance 2026. Who is entitled to ZUS benefit in May?
According to demographic data quoted by “Gazeta Prawna”, in May 2026 even 50-55 thousand people will turn 75 years old. people. However, not everyone in this group will receive support.
The most common situations that exclude you from receiving additional money from ZUS include:
- no pension or disability pension from ZUS,
- receiving pension benefits from KRUS or uniformed systems,
- downloading the add-on in advance,
- stay in a care facility for more than two weeks a month.
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From March 1, 2026, the allowance amounts to PLN 366.68 per month. This amount is adjusted annually by ZUS based on inflation and salary increases. The benefit is not income-related – there are no thresholds or limits.
Additional money from ZUS for seniors in 2026.
As “Gazeta Prawna” reminds, ZUS grants a care allowance ex officio to everyone who is entitled to a pension from ZUS and turns 75. You do not need to submit any applications or certificates – the money appears together with the pension on the standard payment date.
The exception to the lack of need to submit an application for care allowance are persons under 75 years of age who have been declared incapable of living independently. However, the same people who turn 75 will receive the allowance automatically.
A senior receiving these two supplements could lose money. It's worth knowing the difference
It is worth remembering that receiving a new benefit may lead to problems if the senior receives two mutually exclusive benefits at the same time. This concerns care allowance and care allowance.
Although their names sound similar, they are two different benefits and cannot be received at the same time. If someone receives both, they will have to return the money unduly collected – in some cases even several thousand zlotys.
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Care allowance is granted by the local government – the decision is issued by the commune head, mayor or city president, most often through social welfare centers. The benefit is available to, among others:
- disabled children,
- people over 16 years of age with a certificate of significant disability,
- people with a moderate degree of disability, if it occurred before the age of 21,
- people over 75 years of age.
The amount of the benefit is currently PLN 215.84 per month. Benefits will not be provided to, among others: people staying in facilities providing 24-hour care.
