The figures speak for themselves. In 2015, the budget for measures supporting seniors amounted to PLN 3.62 billion – today, the amount of additional support is as high as PLN 36 billion. How did the senior policy look in 2021? Here is the summary.

Tax-free pension

– One of the key solutions of the Polish Order, presented in May 2021, which will benefit elderly people, is the tax-free pension. The new solution enters into force on 1 January 2022 and means that old-age and disability pensions up to PLN 2,500 gross will be exempt from tax. It is even PLN 2,250 more left in the senior’s pocket a year. People who receive higher benefits will also benefit from it, as they will only pay tax on the amount exceeding PLN 2,500 gross - says the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg.

The introduction of this solution is beneficial for 90% of old-age and disability pensioners – more than 8 million seniors will benefit from these changes.

PIT-0 for seniors

Another beneficial solution for elderly people, which will also enter into force on 1 January 2022, is the PIT-0 relief for seniors. It will be available for seniors working full-time, on the basis of contracts of mandate and entrepreneurs (tax scale, flat tax and a lump-sum income tax) who, despite having reached retirement age, will resign from receiving the benefit and will continue to be economically active.

PIT-0 for seniors will function in the same manner as PIT-0 for young people, i.e. it will cover, inter alia, annual income from work of up to PLN 85,528. Seniors settling on a general basis will have a tax-free amount to be used, which will amount to PLN 30 thousand. This means that seniors who remain in the labour market will pay tax only after exceeding the amount of PLN 115,528 of earnings (PLN 30 thousand of tax-free amount + PLN 85,528 of relief).

Next year, thanks to this solution, working seniors will save about 500 million PLN.

13th and 14th pension

Other elements to support the financial situation of seniors and ensuring their security are the indexation of old-age and disability pensions as well as the 13^th or 14^th pensions. The 13^th pensions have been paid since 2019 and since 2020, they have been guaranteed by the Act as an additional annual cash benefit for all old-age and disability pensioners – without income criterion.

In the case of the 14^th pension paid in November and December, the income criterion was already in force, although the vast majority, 8 million pensioners, received the benefit in its full amount.

The funds allocated for paying the 13^th and 14^th pensions in 2021 are respectively PLN 12.2 billion and PLN 11 billion.

“Mother 4+”

Another program supporting elderly people is “Mother 4+”. This is a parental supplementary benefit for those persons who devoted themselves to raising at least four children by giving up professional work or working too short to obtain the right to receive even a minimum pension.

The programme was introduced in March 2019 and nearly 62 thousand benefits for the amount of more than PLN 1.17 billion have been granted from its inception.

“Senior+” and “Active+”

The comprehensive senior policy pursued by the United Right government is based on two pillars. The first one is the financial security of elderly people, the second is their activation in a broad sense.

The “Senior+” programme may be used by local government units. It is designed as a source of financing for the Senior Clubs and the Senior Day Homes. Thanks to this year’s edition of the programme, the number of establishments across Poland will exceed one thousand, while in 2015 there were only 99 of them.

The “Active+” programme, which replaced the Government Program for Social Participation of Elderly People (ASOS) implemented by the end of 2020, supports the promotion of the broadly understood activity of elderly people – physical, intellectual, but also social. This year, financial support was received by more than 290 non-governmental organisations providing seniors with educational, cultural, recreational, care and leisure programmes as well as physical activity or kinesiotherapy services.

This year’s budget for the “Senior+” and “Active+” programmes is PLN 100 million.

Plenipotentiary for the Senior Policy

Another new feature brought about in 2021 is the appointment of Plenipotentiaries for the Senior Policy at the Voivodes. Thanks to their work, the government’s senior policy will be adapted to the real needs of seniors from every voivodeship. The plenipotentiaries will be involved in coordinating the implementation of the support programmes already in place and will assist in developing new solutions. They will also represent the interests of elderly people and take the necessary interventions related to, inter alia, combating discrimination against elderly people.

Good year for seniors

– The fact that the situation of elderly people is close to us is evidenced by acts, not by words. Care for the others, for the weaker, is a manifestation of social solidarity, intergenerational solidarity. It is the responsibility of all of us, and especially the government. It is not only financial support and activation – it is a sense of being important, necessary, taken care of – says the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg.