Widow's pension share rises to 25% from 1 January 2027, with some payments possibly on 31 December
From 1 January 2027, the second benefit in the widow's pension (renta wdowia) rises from 15% to 25%, a change already written into law. For some seniors the gain could reach 200, 300 or even 400 zł gross a month.
How the increase works
From 1 January 2027, the share of the second benefit in the widow's pension (renta wdowia) rises from 15% to 25%, according to Gazeta Prawna. Currently recipients can take 100% of a family pension plus 15% of their own pension or disability pension, or 100% of their own benefit plus 15% of the family pension. The change is already set in law, so it needs no new legislation or political decision. Renta wdowia has operated since 1 July 2025 and lets people combine their own benefit with a family pension from a deceased spouse, where before they generally had to choose one. The increase applies to both widows and widowers, and Radio Zet reports that it should happen automatically, without a new application made solely because of the change.
- Renta wdowia starts, letting recipients combine their own benefit with a family pension
- Possible early January payment for recipients whose payment date falls on the first of the month
- Share of the second benefit rises from 15% to 25%
What recipients could gain
Gazeta Prawna calculates gross monthly gains of 200 zł for a second benefit of 2,000 zł, 250 zł for 2,500 zł, 300 zł for 3,000 zł and 400 zł for 4,000 zł, which comes to 4,800 zł a year at the top figure. In a Radio Zet example, a 3,000 zł benefit and a 2,000 zł benefit total 3,300 zł now and 3,500 zł after the change, a gain of 200 zł a month or 2,400 zł a year. Examples published by Fakt and carried by wnp.pl range from a gross gain of 197.85 zł a month, for a payment rising from 2,275 zł to 2,473 zł, to 380 zł a month, for a payment rising from 5,070 zł to 5,450 zł. All these figures are gross and show only the effect of the higher share, before any other change in benefit amounts. The statutory cap on total widow's pension can reduce the increase, and if the total reaches the limit, the higher share may bring no extra money.
- 2,000 zł second benefit
- 200 zł
- 2,500 zł second benefit
- 250 zł
- 3,000 zł second benefit
- 300 zł
- 4,000 zł second benefit
- 400 zł
Payments before the New Year
Because 1 January 2027 is a public holiday, payments due that day are made early, so part of the January payment may reach recipients on 31 December 2026, according to Radio Zet. Fakt notes that recipients paid on the first day of the month should receive their money on Thursday, 31 December, while the higher amounts apply from January. Recipients whose payment date falls on 6 January, the Epiphany holiday, should also be paid earlier. Radio Zet cautions that not every senior will receive the higher payment before the end of the year, because the individual payment date and the payment schedule decide the timing.
Pension advice at ZUS
Gazeta Prawna and Radio Zet also highlight the pension adviser service at ZUS, where an adviser checks a person's contribution history and runs a simulation of the pension due at statutory age or after one, two or more additional years of work. ZUS reports that more than 4.5 million people used the service in 2026, with 996 advisers working in 316 branches. ZUS spokeswoman Anna Kalita said:
This very much needed service is available at ZUS branches across the country.
Radio Zet notes that the average gross pension and disability pension stood at 4,479.74 zł a month in July 2026. The adviser does not guarantee a pension increase, and the aim of the consultation is to present the available options so that a person can make an informed decision.
