For several years, pensioners in Poland have been getting two bonuses a year. First in April, ZUS pays them “thirteen”, and after the holidays “fourteen”. This second addition is not as favorable as the first, though Theoretically, its amount is the same and amounts to PLN 1878.91 gross.
The basic difference is that fewer people get it. “Thirteen” is entitled to everyone, regardless of the amount of the benefit. The September bonus will only be given to those with a pension not higher than PLN 2,900 gross per month.
Everything that over PLN 2,900 makes the amount of the add -on to decrease. With a retirement of PLN 2910, “fourteen” will be lower by PLN 10. For PLN 3,500 – by PLN 600. And so on. This principle is commonly called “zloty for a zloty”.
ZUS has already started withdrawals. On Monday, he announced that in the first round of payments, the fourteenth pension received 674.1 thousand. people, a The total gross sum of these transfers was over PLN 991.2 million.
We would like to remind you that ZUS carries out the transfers of pensions and disability pensions on the agreed dates: 1., 6., 10., 15., 20 and 25th day of the month. People who receive their basic benefit until the 1st day of the month could get extra money at the end of August, because the funds are transferred to banks and the post office in advance.
Fourteen pensioners get automatically – you do not need to submit any applications or take additional actions.
Making limits for pensioners. September 2025
In September, in addition to fourteen, there is also an update of retirement earning limits. Importantly, they relate to the so -called earlier pensioners, e.g. owners of bridges or a teaching compensation benefit. It is a total of approx. 50 thousand People who have not yet reached the universal retirement age (60 years for women and 65 for men), but still receive a pension.
They apply slightly different regulations than the rest when it comes to making extra money. For this group of pensioners It is important that their additional earnings do not exceed 70 percent. average monthly salary from the previous quarter – This is a threshold, after which the payment of benefits may be reduced.
See also: A 40-year-old should have so many savings. Forget about three salaries [KWOTY]
In turn, exceeding the ceiling of 130 percent average salary results in suspension of the pension payment by ZUS. It is therefore worth paying attention to those limits that have just become effective and will remain in force until the end of November 2025.
In August, the Central Statistical Office announced that in the second quarter of 2025 the average monthly salary was 8,000. 748 PLN 63 gr. We wrote about it at Business Insider Polska.
This is less than in the previous quarter, when the average amounted to over 8.9 thousand. PLN gross. However, this is the specificity of remuneration in the first quarter, which They also usually include bonuses and annual prizes, which is why they are usually higher. This happens practically every year.
It means more or less that the key thresholds for some pensioners will be between September and the end of November:
- 6,000 PLN 124 – above this amount ZUS will reduce the benefit,
- 11 thousand 373 PLN 20 groszy – above this amount ZUS will suspend the payment of a pension.
Today, these thresholds amount to 6,000 respectively. 273 PLN 60 groszy and 11 thousand PLN 651. So it is easy to count that from September they will lower by PLN 150 and 280, respectively. This is bad news for young pensioners.
Importantly, seniors who have already reached retirement age (60 years for women and 65 for men) can breathe a sigh of relief – their restrictions do not apply and can earn some worries about their pensions.
See also: “Can a man soak through the ceiling after death?” Jarek, who cleans the place of death, answers
How much will ZUS reduce the payment?
What is quite important for people earning between 70 and 130 percent. average salary, ZUS will not reduce the pension by any amount. He usually hit so much money as long as a specific threshold is exceeded.
Example? A teacher on a compensation benefit, who earns 6,000 PLN 200 per month, she will have to reckon with the reduction of the transfer from ZUS by about PLN 75. It exceeds the 70 percent threshold. average salary.
With a salary of 6.5 thousand The pension will decrease by over PLN 370. But with a salary of 8,000 PLN ZUS will deduct nearly 2,000 PLN, but about PLN 940.
Why so much? Here, the so -called The amount of maximum reduction, which ZUS publishes once a year on the occasion of annual valorisation. It imposes the upper limit of lowering the benefit. From March 2025, it is:
- PLN 939.61 – in the event of a pension and disability pensions for total incapacity for work,
- PLN 704.75 – for partial incapacity for work,
- PLN 798.72 – in the case of a survivor's pension for one person.
So if an earlier pensioner exceeds the 70 % threshold, he must take into account the cut of the pension by up to PLN 939. In the case of earnings of 12,000 PLN ZUS will completely suspend his payment.
