On Monday, in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, a joint press conference, dedicated to the support for elderly people under the Polish Order, was held with the participation of the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg, the Government Spokesperson, Piotr Müller and the President of the Social Insurance Institution, Prof. Gertruda Uścińska.

The Polish Order is, first of all, to lead to the intense economic growth which is to translate into an improvement in the financial situation of Polish families and seniors. The tax solutions proposed in the Polish Order, inter alia, the historical increase in the tax-free amount to PLN 30 thousand are beneficial for old age pensioners. Those receiving a benefit of up to PLN 2.5 thousand gross will not pay tax at all – said the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg and added that the tax changes are beneficial or at least neutral to the vast majority of old age and disability pensioners.

• It is beneficial to persons who receive benefits of up to PLN 4,920. This is 8.1 million people,  94% of old age pensioners and 98% of disability pensioners.
• For persons receiving old age and disability benefits from PLN 4,920 to PLN 12.8 thousand, the reform is neutral.

Those who received lower benefits in January will be able to expect compensation next month. Old age and disability pensioners receiving benefits of up to PLN 12.8 thousand do not lose anything as a result of the Polish Order – said Minister Marlena Maląg.

There are about 421 thousand such persons, i.e. 6% of old age pensioners and nearly 2% of disability pensioners – added the President of the Social Insurance Institution, Prof. Gertruda Uścińska. In turn, there are only 457 people who receive benefits in the amount of more than PLN 12.8 thousand.

Senior policy of the United Right government

Minister Maląg also mentioned other programmes and activities dedicated to elderly people. These are, first of all, additional benefits in the form of the so-called thirteenth pension, paid annually and guaranteed by law as from 2020, and the so-called fourteenth pension, which – once – was received last year by the vast majority of old age and disability pensioners.

The senior policy of the government is aimed at changing the situation of seniors in the autumn of life. As part of intergenerational solidarity, we create such conditions so that retiring persons could receive decent benefits – said Marlena Maląg.

In 2021, the PiS government allocated an additional amount of PLN 36 billion for the senior policy. In 2015, it was just slightly more than PLN 3.6 billion.