Since January 1, the Social Insurance Institution has received over 155,000 applications for widow's pension. Mostly in paper form, over 70 percent. ZUS reminds that the benefit payment will start on July 1 – regardless of whether we submit the application in January, February or even in July.
According to ZUS data, so far over 155,000 have been received. widow's pension applications. Most of them – over 115 thousand. (74%) were submitted during customer visits to the plant's branches. Less than 10 thousand (6.5%) of applications were submitted electronically via the PUE/eZUS portal. In turn, he received PLN 30,000 via mail from ZUS. conclusions.
Applications for widow's pension can be submitted from January 1, 2025. ZUS emphasizes that there is no need to rush, because in the case of applications submitted from January to the end of July this year, the benefit will be granted from July 1 this year anyway.
Increased traffic at ZUS branches
ZUS points out that January is the month when customers most often visit its branches. In recent days, many of them have submitted applications for additional length of service and support benefits – the percentage points have been changing since this year, so another group of clients is submitting applications.
As of January 16, over 154,000 people visited ZUS offices regarding widow's pension. customers, most of whom have applied for this right.
The company assures that if a person decides to submit an application for a widow's pension electronically and does not yet have an account on the PUE/eZUS portal, an employee will help him or her set up such an account. Just contact ZUS. It doesn't have to be done in person. You can, for example, use an e-visit or call the hotline, which has served 11,000 people since January 2. connections.
In the matter of widow's pension, ZUS received over PLN 2,000. emails.
How to apply for widow's pension
Applications for widow's pension can be submitted electronically via the PUE/eZUS portal, in traditional paper form at any ZUS branch or sent by post.
A special survey is available on the Institute's website to check eligibility to combine benefits with survivors' pensions. So far, 332,000 people have used it. people. Additionally, the ZUS website also includes a calculator to calculate the estimated amount of combined benefits. The calculator was used by over 326,000 people. customers.
People who do not have Internet access can call the ZUS hotline and use an automatic survey to check the conditions for widow's pension over the phone. So far, 23,000 have done so. people.
The most frequently asked questions about widow's pension with answers have been published on the ZUS website.
Conditions to be met to receive a widow's pension
Being a widow or widower is not enough to obtain the right to a widow's pension. The entitlement will be granted upon application after meeting certain conditions.
You must have reached the general retirement age of 60 years for women and 65 years for men, remain in the marital community until the date of your spouse's death, and acquire the right to a survivor's pension after your deceased spouse no earlier than before the age of 55 (women) and 60 years (men). ).
Widows and widowers can choose whether they want to receive the entire survivor's pension and 15 percent. own benefit or vice versa. From January 1, 2027, the second benefit will be increased to 25%.
This choice is also available to people who are entitled to benefits or benefits pre-retirement benefits, bridge pensionteacher's compensation benefit or training pension.
A widow or widower is entitled to receive benefits concurrently with the survivor's pension only after the last spouse. The right to payment of benefits in the event of a survivor's pension expires on the day before the entitled person enters into a new marriage.
The amount of the sum of benefits determined at the same time cannot exceed three times the amount of the lowest pension (PLN 1,780.96), i.e. a total of PLN 5,342.88. This limit also includes benefits paid by foreign institutions and other than one-off benefits and allowances paid under the Act or separate regulations. If the sum of combined benefits exceeds three times the minimum pension, the benefit will be reduced by the amount of the excess.
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