13th Pension 2026: Who Misses Out? – ZUS Rules

Millions of Polish seniors are looking forward to their 13th retirement in 2026. Everything indicates that the payment schedule will remain the same as before. However, it should be remembered that additional support will not reach everyone – ZUS lists three specific groups of people who will be excluded from receiving this benefit. What? Here are the details.

A record number of thirteen beneficiaries in 2026

The upcoming payments of the additional annual cash benefit will reach a large group of recipients across the country. It is estimated that in 2026, additional funds will reach over 6.4 million retirees and nearly 2 million people receiving pensions from the Social Insurance Institution. This group will also be joined by almost a million beneficiaries insured by the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund. For the vast majority of eligible people, the amount of this support will be the same as the amount of the lowest pension applicable in a given year, which is a significant strengthening of seniors’ home budgets.

Expected amount of the 13th pension in 2026

Currently, the minimum pension benefit is PLN 1,878.91 gross, which translates into the amount of PLN 1,709.81 paid directly to the beneficiary. However, due to the indexation planned from March 2026, these parameters will change noticeably. According to preliminary forecasts, the thirteenth pension in 2026 may increase to approximately PLN 1,971 gross, which would mean an “in-hand” payment of less than PLN 1,800. However, it is worth remembering that these are estimates and the binding amounts will be officially approved by the government only at the beginning of 2026.

Deadlines for payment of the thirteenth pension by ZUS and KRUS

Analyzing the schedule from previous years, it can be assumed with high probability that transfers and postal orders with additional money will be made in April 2026. This is the traditional payment month for this allowance and there are currently no indications that could suggest any delays or changes in this respect. The mechanism for distributing funds is simplified because the money reaches the recipients together with the basic benefit. This means that seniors can expect payments on standard payment dates, which fall on the 1st, 5th, 6th, 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th of the month.

Who will not receive the 13th pension in 2026? ZUS indicated three groups of people

Even though the benefit is of a mass nature, the applicable regulations clearly indicate the groups of people who will not be covered by the payment. The first of them are retired judges and prosecutors who, due to the specific legal status of their remuneration, are not on the list of beneficiaries. The second category are people receiving pre-retirement benefits who decide to become professionally active. If their income exceeds the threshold of 130%. average salary, which results in the suspension of the benefit payment as of March 31, 2026, they lose the right to the thirteenth birthday. The last group excluded from this financial privilege are outstanding athletes receiving benefits for their success at the Olympic, Paralympic or Games for the deaf. The winners of these prestigious competitions, despite their merits, are not taken into account when awarding additional bonuses, which applies to both the thirteenth and fourteenth pensions.

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