A series of announcements and guides remind that March 1, 2026, will bring benefit increases through valorization and new earning limits for some pensioners and disability benefit recipients. Simultaneously, ZUS expects income declarations for the previous year by the end of February. Media also describe changes in bailiff deductions, an increase in widow's pensions and support benefits, and staffing issues in the adjudication system.
Valorization from March 1
Publications indicate a benefit increase from March 1, 2026, and signal that the effects "in hand" may differ due to tax settlements.
Income declaration by the end of February
ZUS expects income documents; the risk of repayment or suspension results from exceeding income thresholds, not solely from lack of a certificate.
Higher earning limits
Media remind about new income thresholds that determine reduction or suspension of benefits for individuals below the universal retirement age.
New rules for bailiff deductions
Updated limits on deductions from pensions are set to apply from March 1, 2026, significant for individuals with debt and ongoing enforcement.
Shortage of adjudicators and L4 checks
Some texts describe staffing shortages in ZUS adjudication and more frequent checks on sick leave, including those related to pregnancy.
The approaching deadline of March 1, 2026, is described in publications as the moment from which pensions and annuities will increase as a result of valorization. The materials cite an index of 105.3% (an increase of 5.3%) and indicate that the increases will cover benefits from ZUS, while valorization in KRUS is discussed separately. At the same time, some texts note that the net benefit may differ among beneficiaries due to tax reasons, which in extreme cases may limit the perceived increase in payout. 5,3% — benefit increase from 2026-03-01 Many articles focus on the obligations of individuals who receive benefits and work simultaneously. They remind about the income declaration deadline by the end of February, emphasizing that financial consequences arise primarily from exceeding income thresholds, not merely from delayed submission of documents. Concurrently, new, higher earning limits and ZUS's practice of verifying pensioners' and benefit recipients' incomes are discussed. Separately, a change from March 1, 2026, regarding deductions, i.e., how much a bailiff can seize from a pension, and updates to benefits targeted at selected groups, such as widow's pension or support benefit, are described. The contemporary Polish pension system grew out of reforms from the late 1990s, when the state introduced new rules for contribution accounting and benefit calculation. The mechanism of annual valorization became one of the key tools to protect beneficiaries from the effects of inflation. In the background of financial changes, organizational and control threads appear. Some publications describe a shortage of adjudicating physicians and the idea to utilize the competencies of nurses and physiotherapists in certain adjudication activities. Other texts point to an increase in checks on sick leave during pregnancy and difficulties in obtaining disability pensions, which the media illustrate with phrases about "miraculous recoveries" and lengthy procedures. The local government thread concerns deadlines for benefit payments by MOPS and standards for assessing fitness in support proceedings.„Czy niepełnosprawny chodzi sam po mieszkaniu?” (Does a disabled person walk alone around the apartment?) — Supreme Administrative Court
Perspektywy mediów: Emphasis on protecting seniors and tax consequences; criticism of staffing shortages in adjudication. Emphasis on controls, tightening the system, and responsibility for income declarations.