Elderly people are a special group which for many years has built the Polish economy, created the labour market, brought into the world next generations of Poles.

Seniors deserve the best – to live in a dignified, peaceful and possibly active manner. The senior policy is extremely important to us. Only this year, we allocate PLN 44 billion for all measures addressed to seniors. In 2015, it was less than PLN 4 billion – indicates the Minister of Family and Social Policy Marlena Maląg.

Fourteenth pension also in 2022

Despite the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine and faced by whole Europe, not only have the social programmes implemented so far not been reduced, but further support instruments have been launched.

This is a series of protective measures in connection with inflation caused by the Kremlin’s policy, the so-called Putinflation, but not only. For the second time, we paid the fourteenth pension, despite the fact that it was supposed to be a one-off benefit in 2021. However, we respond on an ongoing basis, hence the payment of the benefit also in 2022. We want old age and disability pensioners to receive it also next year – says Minister Marlena Maląg.

• This year, about PLN 24.5 billion was paid out as part of the thirteenth and fourteenth pensions. In total, since 2019 (when the thirteenth pension was paid for the first time), it is already more than PLN 70 billion.

Record-breaking indexation of benefits in 2023

On 1 March 2022, the lowest old age pension, disability pension for total incapacity for work and survivor’s pension increased from PLN 1,250.88 to PLN 1,338.44, i.e. by PLN 87.56. In turn, the lowest disability pension for partial incapacity for work increased from PLN 938.16 to PLN 1,003.83 – it is PLN 65.67 more.

Next year, a record-breaking indexation of benefits awaits us – from 1 March, the minimum old age pension will amount to PLN 1,588.44. In 2023, old age and disability pension benefits will increase by at least PLN 250 (not less than 13.8%).

Tax changes

In 2022, the tax-free amount increased to PLN 30 thousand. This means that old age pensioners who receive their monthly benefit in the amount of up to 2.5 thousand gross will not pay even 1 PLN to the tax office.

On the other hand, seniors with a benefit exceeding PLN 2.5 thousand additionally benefit from new tax changes, since they settle their income at a lower rate. They pay the tax of 12%, not 17% - as it has been so far.

In addition, there is a relief (PIT-0) for working seniors after reaching retirement age.

Supporting the activity of elderly people

An important part of the senior policy is to support the broadly understood activity of elderly people. The activities in this area are carried out as part of the Senior+ and Active+ programmes. The objective of both programmes is to create a safe and friendly space for meetings, integration within and between generations, learning new things and activity in various fields.

• Today, there are 1,068 Senior+ houses and clubs all over Poland, offering places for more than 25 thousand seniors. Every year, the number of such places is growing. The budget of the programme in 2022 is PLN 60 million.

Until 5 January 2023, local governments may submit offers under the Senior+ programme, 2023 edition.

• As part of the Active+ programme, about 623 thousand elderly people made use of the implemented projects in the years 2021-2022. In 2022, these were 314 projects and 132 thousand persons. The annual budget of the programme is PLN 40 million.

Helping less independent persons

However, we do not forget about those who are less independent. The Care 75+ programme, implemented since 2018, supports local governments in providing care services, including specialist services for persons aged 75 and more.

• In 2022, 616 municipalities received more than PLN 38 million (funds granted) to provide care services for nearly 9.6 thousand persons.

Also in 2022, the Senior Citizens’ Support Corps, launched during the pandemic, was functioning. As part of this year’s edition of the Corps, municipalities received about PLN 61 million.

The programme means, inter alia, the help in handling various matters – from delivering purchases to making an online appointment with a doctor. Volunteers also inform, inter alia, about access to nationwide helplines for seniors. In 2022, the Corps was expanded to include safety bands.

Integration

We also remember about persons with disabilities. In 2022, the support for persons with disabilities amounted to more than PLN 37 billion. In 2015, it was PLN 16 billion.

• We are increasing the amount of benefits. From 1 March 2022, the social pension, like the minimum old age pension, is PLN 1,338.44. In 2023, this amount will increase to PLN 1,588.44.

What is important, from 1 March 2022, the amount on the basis of which the right to and the amount of the supplementary benefit for persons unable to live independently is determined also increased – from PLN 1,772.08 to PLN 1,896.13.

Since 2015, the care benefit for carers of persons with disabilities has increased by PLN 919. In 2015, it was at the level of PLN 1,200, in 2022 it increased to PLN 2,119. Next year, it will be PLN 2,458.

Support in the era of inflation

In response to the current economic situation caused by Putinflation, we introduced solutions which will protect Poles against the rising prices of energy. Persons with disabilities have been treated in a special manner and for them the limit of guaranteed prices of electricity is higher than in the case of other households – says Minister Marlena Maląg.

In addition, as pointed out by the Head of the Ministry of Family, the maximum price of energy has also been set for 2023, inter alia, for round-the-clock care institutions for persons with disabilities. This means a reduction in the price rises by even 70%.

More money for ZAZ and WTZ

In 2022, the amount of co-financing was increased to the costs of an annual stay of one person in vocational development centres (ZAZ) and occupational therapy workshops (WTZ).

• In vocational development centres, this is an increase from 27.5 thousand to 28.5 thousand in 2022 and to 31 thousand in 2023 and in subsequent years.
• The co-financing in the case of occupational therapy workshops increased from PLN 24,096 to PLN 25,896 in 2022. In 2023, it will already be PLN 27,696.

Higher budget for the “For Life” programme

The main change in the „For Life” programme is the fact that the funds have almost doubled. In the years 2022-2026, this will be at least PLN 5.95 billion. In the years 2017-2021, it was PLN 3.1 billion. In 2022, the budget of the programme amounted to PLN 970 million.

Solidarity Fund

The support for persons with disabilities is provided by the funds from the Solidarity Fund, under which tasks related to, inter alia, assistant services, respite care services and the creation of care and residential centres are implemented.

• In 2022, we allocated PLN 610 million in total for assistant services. These funds are used by local governments (PLN 510 million) and non-governmental organisations (PLN 100 million).
• At the end of December 2022, the Ministry of Family and Social Policy announced the allocation of nearly PLN 105 million to 147 non-governmental organisations for providing assistant services under the Personal Assistant for Persons with Disabilities programme for 2023.

So far, the co-financing has been granted for the creation of 102 Centres, the total amount of co-financing is about PLN 292 million. 19 centres are already in operation. In the last distribution of funds, which was announced at the beginning of December, more than 71 million was allocated for the creation of 24 care and residential centres.

Time to make summaries

The end of the year is always a time to make some summaries, reflections, as well as plans for the next 365 days. This year, despite difficult circumstances – the war in Ukraine, resultant inflation, the energy crisis – we managed to implement all existing activities and programmes. What is more, in response to difficult times we prepared a number of new solutions. We do not leave anyone without support, we do not agree to the situation where Poles, Polish seniors or persons with disabilities incur the cost of the imperialist inclinations of Russia and Putin – stresses the Minister of Family and Social Policy Marlena Maląg.