The conference brings together academics, politicians and representatives of institutions implementing senior policy in local communities. Its main focus will be on seniors as consumers, and the main premise of the conference is: "Senior consumer influencing the development of the economy". The conference is accompanied by the senior fair, promoting the "silver economy", during which there is, among others, a Health Town, where visitors can undergo medical examination free of charge. At the fair, there was also a promotional stand of the Ministry of Family and Social Policy.

10 million senior citizens

On average, one in four Poles is already of senior age - 60 or older. We are talking about almost 10 million people, and this number - as indicated by the forecasts of the Statistics Poland - will continue to grow. By 2050, around 40% of Poles will be seniors.

– This is why a well-designed senior policy, tailored to the needs of the elderly, a group with diverse and often specific needs, is so important - said Minister Marlena Maląg, opening the 2nd Voivodeship Senior Conference and Senior Fair "Silver Silesia".

PLN 70 billion of additional support

The minister recalled that the Law and Justice government was pursuing a consistent, stable and long-term senior citizen policy. - We started by restoring the retirement age, giving the possibility to choose - to continue working or to receive a pension - said the Minister. - We take care of the financial security of the elderly by payment of 13th and 14th pensions and by pension indexation. This means PLN 70 billion of additional support in the years 2019-2022.

From 2022, we have increased the tax-free amount to PLN 30,000, so that pension and disability benefits up to PLN 2,500 per month are exempt from PIT, and from July this year, PIT will be reduced from 17 per cent to 12 per cent.

An important programme for people who have brought up at least four children and could not take up a job or gave it up and therefore do not have even a minimum pension earned, is the government's 'Mama 4+' programme. - We launched it in 2019 and have so far granted over 71,000 benefits to the amount of nearly PLN 1.4 billion - said Deputy Minister Szwed.

Active senior citizen

We focus on professional and social activity, and on the development of special government programmes, implemented by the Ministry of Family and Social Policy - such as "Senior+" and "Aktywni+", to which we allocate PLN 100 million a year, and thanks to which the offer for the elderly is expanding.

–  We will allocate PLN 500 million for programmes supporting the activity of seniors in the years 2021-2025 - added Deputy Minister Stanisław Szwed.  Today, there are over 1,000 Senior+ centres in Poland, providing support to over 25,000 elderly people. This is a high number compared to 2015, when there were less than 100 such facilities. To establish new facilities and to co-finance current operations of the existing ones under the "Senior+" programme we will allocate a total of PLN 300 mln until 2025, i.e. PLN 60 mln a year.

Another important programme helping the elderly to become active is the multiannual programme for the elderly "Aktywni+". The Ministry of Family is implementing it together with non-governmental organisations and other entities acting for the benefit of seniors. - In 2022, we have co-financed 281 such projects in Poland to the amount of almost PLN 38 million - concluded Deputy Minister Szwed.