The widowed person will be able to keep their benefit and increase it with a part of the deceased spouse's survivor's pension or collect a retirement and pension benefit.

The time of mourning should not be associated with concerns related to the financial situation. We care for a dignified autumn of life for our senior citizens, for their life stability in the face of personal drama, emphasises Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, Minister for Family, Labour and Social Policy.

Main assumptions of the Act

The Act will enter into force on 1 January 2025, while the entitlement to use the benefits under the taper rule and payment of benefits thereunder would take place from 1 July 2025. This solution is necessary in order for the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) and other pension authorities to be adequately prepared to perform this task.

The Act provides for the payment of a benefit:

• From 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2026, at a rate of 15 per cent.
• From 1 January 2027, at a rate of 25 per cent.

The widow's pension will be paid without a consequence of reducing the sum of benefits to the limit of three times the lowest pension. It does not matter whether the pension came from KRUS, ZUS or another system. Persons who became widowed several years ago will also become eligible to additional money. The estimated number of Poles who will be able to benefit from this Act is approximately 2 million people.