ZUS Issues Urgent Fraud Warning and Announces New Pension Payment Schedule

Poland's Social Insurance Institution issued three separate warnings and announcements on Friday, alerting citizens to scammers charging up to PLN 22,000 for a free application, a common mistake that causes disabled people to lose tens of thousands of zlotys in benefits, and an updated payment schedule for the 13th pension that will arrive earlier than usual this year. The warnings came on the same day that Education Minister Barbara Nowacka signed a long-awaited regulation, and as new data from the housing market showed buyers gaining ground over sellers. ZUS described the scam as urgent, noting that fraudsters are charging PLN 22,000 for assistance with an application that costs nothing to submit independently. The institution urged citizens not to pay any third party for help with paperwork that ZUS processes free of charge. The cluster of announcements reflects a broader pattern of ZUS using public communications to prevent avoidable financial losses among vulnerable groups.

Disabled people risk losing tens of thousands in benefits ZUS warned that people with disabilities risk losing significant sums — potentially tens of thousands of zlotys — due to a procedural mistake that is easily avoided. According to ZUS, the error occurs when a person receives a decision from the regional disability assessment team, known as WZON, but then fails to submit a separate formal application to ZUS for the corresponding support benefit. The disability rating from WZON does not automatically trigger benefit payments — a distinct ZUS application is required, and without it, no payments are made. ZUS stressed that the trap is easy to fall into because recipients may assume the WZON decision is sufficient to begin receiving financial support. The institution confirmed the mistake is common and that the financial consequences can accumulate over months or years of missed payments. ZUS noted the error can be avoided simply by submitting the required application promptly after receiving the disability assessment decision.

13th pension payments to arrive earlier in April 2026 ZUS announced a new payment schedule for the 13th pension, confirming that disbursements will begin earlier this year than in previous years. According to web search data, the 13th pension in 2026 is worth , and payments are processed automatically without any application required from recipients. ZUS provided specific dates for the April disbursements, with the earlier schedule described as a change from the standard timing. The institution emphasized that pensioners do not need to take any action to receive the payment, as it is distributed automatically to eligible recipients. The 14th pension is separately planned for autumn 2026, according to available information. The announcement was intended to reassure recipients and prevent any confusion about whether action was needed on their part.

Poland introduced the 13th pension as an additional annual cash benefit for retirees and disability pension recipients. The payment is separate from the regular monthly pension and is disbursed once per year, typically in spring. The 14th pension was subsequently introduced as a second annual supplementary benefit, paid in autumn. Both payments are administered by ZUS and distributed automatically to eligible recipients without requiring individual applications.

Education minister signs regulation teachers had long awaited Education Minister Barbara Nowacka signed a new regulation on March 20, 2026, described by the source as a decision teachers had been waiting a long time for. Nowacka serves as minister of education in the Polish government and is a member of the Sejm. The regulation was signed the same day as the ZUS announcements, adding to a busy Friday for Polish domestic policy news. No further details on the specific content of the regulation were available from the source article beyond the confirmation of signing. Separately, new data from the housing market indicated that buyers are gaining an advantage as market dynamics shift, according to reporting by Gratka.pl. Dom Development, a real estate developer, reported selling 535 (apartments) — Dom Development Kraków sales in 2025 in Kraków in 2025 and set a target of reaching 1,000 sales per year in the city within three to four years, according to WNP.pl. The developer's expansion plans reflect continued interest in the Kraków market despite the broader shift toward buyer-favorable conditions nationally.