The beginning of March 2026 brings significant changes to the Polish social security system. The valorization of pension and disability benefits necessitates adjustments to numerous supplements, including care and housing allowances. Simultaneously, the government is abandoning costly reforms such as "250 plus," focusing instead on tightening the disability assessment system and launching new electric vehicle purchase subsidy programs, which is generating strong emotions among beneficiaries and experts.
ZUS benefit valorization
From March 1, 2026, the amounts of supplements to pensions and disability benefits increase, including the supporting and care allowances.
New housing thresholds
Income limits qualifying for the housing supplement are raised to 3,561 PLN and 2,671 PLN.
Car purchase subsidies
A short, one-month application window for vehicle purchase co-financing will open on March 2, 2026.
End of 250 plus plans
The government has officially withdrawn from the project for a new social benefit due to excessively high budget costs.
The Polish public administration is preparing for a comprehensive update of social benefits, which will come into force on March 1, 2026. A key element of these changes is the annual valorization, which raises the care allowance to 1,978.49 PLN for eligible groups. The income thresholds for housing supplements will also change, with the new amounts set at 3,561 PLN for single-person households and 2,671 PLN per person in multi-person households. The reorganization also includes the Social Insurance Institution's (ZUS) assessment system – due to a shortage of medical personnel, nurses and physiotherapists will gain the authority to assess disability and incapacity for work.The benefit valorization system in Poland was introduced in its current form in the late 1990s as part of social insurance reforms to protect the real value of payments from the effects of inflation.In the area of support for people with disabilities, controversy is growing around the so-called "point 7" in disability certificates, the absence of which prevents the receipt of the care allowance. Criticism also targets the work of the Voivodeship Teams for Disability Assessment (WZON), which are accused of conducting overly restrictive and sometimes degrading fitness tests. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance and the Social Insurance Institution are reassuring taxpayers regarding PIT settlements for 2025. Thanks to the integration of the Twój e-PIT system with the mObywatel app, the tax declaration process is expected to be faster, which should translate into timely tax refunds. „Reforma świadczenia 250 plus nie zostanie zrealizowana w zapowiadanym kształcie ze względu na nadmierne obciążenie budżetu państwa.” (The 250 plus benefit reform will not be implemented in its announced form due to excessive burden on the state budget.) — Government representativeNew economic-ecological initiatives are also appearing on the horizon. Starting March 2, 2026, the application window for the car purchase subsidy program opens, with the application period limited to just one month. In the political sphere, The Left continues its push for the introduction of a new tax intended to finance higher minimum wages for selected professional groups (up to 9,000 PLN from July 2026) and pension increases. These changes coincide with analyses of the impact of the minimum wage increase on the Alimony Fund, where higher earnings could paradoxically deprive some families of the right to state support.
Perspektywy mediów: Left-leaning media emphasize the need for radical wage and pension increases, considering the current benefit system inadequate and humiliating. Conservative media warn about the inflationary effects of new taxes and question the financial stability of the announced social programs.