Persons supplementing their early retirement pension, disability pension or survivor’s pension must remember about the income thresholds beyond which “ZUS may reduce or suspend the benefit paid”. New income limits introduced from December 2025 will allow working retirees and pensioners to earn more, but the rule still applies that exceeding the upper thresholds may result in a reduction or suspension of benefits.
New limits for supplementing pensions and annuities from December 2025
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According to the information provided by the Social Insurance Institution on November 24, 2025, from December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026, new revenue limits apply. “The safe income threshold will increase to PLN 6,140.20 gross, while the upper limit will be PLN 11,403.30 gross”.
- Safe limit for earning extra money – people working and receiving benefits until they reach the general retirement age can earn extra money up to PLN 6,140.20 gross per monthwhich is 70% of the average monthly salary. Earnings up to this amount will not reduce the benefit paid.
- Upper limit for earning extra money – if the monthly income exceeds PLN 11,403.30 gross, i.e. 130% of the average salary, “benefit payment may be suspended”.
Benefit reduction when earnings exceed the limit
If your monthly income exceeds PLN 6,140.20but will not exceed PLN 11,403.30 grossZUS may reduce the benefit. The maximum discounts are:
- PLN 939.61 for people receiving retirement and pension due to total incapacity for work,
- PLN 704.75 for persons receiving a pension for partial incapacity for work,
- PLN 798.72 for persons receiving a survivor’s pension paid to one person.
These amounts are valid until February 28, 2026, i.e. until the next indexation.
See also:New benefit for seniors: senior voucher PLN 2,150 per month. The average monthly income is decisive
Who does not apply to earnings limits?
Not every retiree and disability pensioner has to fear restrictions. The limits do not apply to:
- Pensioners who have reached the general retirement age (60 years for women and 65 years for men) – they can earn extra money without any restrictions, a “their benefit will not be reduced or suspended even if their income exceeds 70% or 130% of the average monthly salary”. The exception is the situation when ZUS increased the pension to the amount of the minimum benefit (as of March 2025 amounting to PLN 1,878.91 gross) – then if the income exceeds this increase, the benefit will be paid in a lower amount.
- Some pensioners – persons receiving a pension for a military invalid or war invalid, if their incapacity for work is related to military service.
- Persons receiving survivor’s pension after those entitled to these benefits or in an amount higher than the pension determined after reaching the general retirement age.
Important information for those supplementing their pension
Earning limits change four times a yeartherefore people receiving previous benefits should monitor the current amounts. For the next three months, i.e. from December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026, the limit for safe earning extra money will be PLN 6,140.20 gross per month.
To sum up, supplementing pensions and annuities from December 2025 is possible in higher amounts than before, but still requires caution when exceeding the upper income thresholds. For many people, this means greater financial freedom, but ZUS still has the right to reduce or suspend the benefit if the monthly income exceeds the established limits.
Source: ZUS press release, November 24, 2025.
