In this section, we describe what benefits are payable to people with restricted ability to live independently or who are entirely unfit for work.

The benefits described are:

• social pension (renta socjalna)
• medical care allowance (zasiłek pielęgnacyjny)
• medical care supplement (dodatek pielęgnacyjny)
• supplementary benefit for persons unable to live independently (świadczenie uzupełniające dla osób niezdolnych do samodzielnej egzystencji) 

Under what circumstances am I entitled to benefits?

Individuals may apply for a social pension if they have reached the age of 18 and are recognised to be entirely unfit for work owing to physical disabilities which occurred:

• before they were 18;
• during schooling or study (but before 25 years of age);
• during doctorate studies.

A social pension is granted to people living in Poland.

Medical care allowance is granted to children with disabilities, young people with severe disabilities and the elderly.

Medical care supplement is in addition to a retirement pension or other pension and partially covers the costs of the restricted ability to have an independent life for people with disabilities and people over 75 (it cannot be applied for in combination with medical care allowance).

Supplementary benefit for persons unable to live independently is granted to persons who are unable to live independently due to the functional limitations caused by significant impairments and incur excessive costs related to their daily existence.

You can read about pensions for workers who have lost the ability to work in the "Disability pensions".

If you are looking for information on benefits for caregivers of children or adults with disabilities, look at the "Benefits for caregivers».

What conditions need to be met?

Social pension: individuals of legal age (18 years' old) may apply for it if they are recognised to be entirely unfit for work owing to physical disabilities.

A person's right to a social pension is suspended if, in a given month, they have received income of 70% of the average monthly salary for the previous quarter. This income includes other benefits and allowances, as well as, for example, income from house rental.

Medical care allowance is granted to children with disabilities, young people with severe disabilities and the elderly.

The following are entitled to medical care allowance:

• children up to 16 with disabilities;
• people over 16 with a court decision recognising their severe disability, or else their moderate disability, if the disability occurred before they reached 21 years of age;
• people over 75.

Medical care supplement is a supplement to an old-age pension or other pensions, and partially covers the costs of the restricted ability to have an independent life.

To be entitled to this supplement, an individual must be eligible to apply for an old-age pension or other pensions and must meet one of the following conditions:

• be recognised as entirely unfit to work and have an independent life;
• be over 75 years of age.

People requiring long-term care and in a difficult financial situation may also receive financial support under the social welfare system.

Supplementary benefit for persons unable to live independently is granted if the following conditions are fulfilled:

• being at least 18 years old;
• holding a disability certificate stating that the person is unable to live independently;
• not receiving pre-existing social benefits financed from public funds or receiving benefits for a total amount not exceeding PLN 1,896.13;
• being resident in Poland.

What am I entitled to and how do I apply?

Social pension

A social pension is granted at a fixed amount corresponding to 100% of the minimum disability pension.

An advance income tax payment is deducted from the pension as well as health insurance contributions.

A ZUS-certified doctor establishes the complete incapacity to work and the period it is forecast to last. Complete incapacity to work refers to a person who has lost the ability to carry out any form of work.

Medical care allowance

The medical care allowance is paid irrespective of the family's income.

To apply for the allowance, an application must be sent to the local social welfare centre, as well as documents certifying the disability.

Medical care supplement

The medical care supplement amount is not taxed. It is paid irrespective of the family income.

The medical care supplement is assigned automatically to individuals of at least 75 years of age.

In other cases, the appropriate doctor's certificate must be submitted to an office of the Social Insurance Institute (ZUS).

Supplementary benefit for persons unable to live independently

The maximum amount equals PLN 500 per month. If receiving other social benefits, the total cumulated amount cannot not exceed PLN 1,896.13 per month.

Jargon busters

Social welfare centres are local institutions performing social welfare tasks, e.g. entitlements for social welfare support. The centres are in every municipality.

Documents to be completed

• Social pension
• Medical care allowance provision, step-by-step guide and form
• Medical care supplement, basic information
• Supplementary benefit for persons unable to live independently
• Supplementary benefit for persons unable to live independently – application form ESUN

Know your rights

The links below set out your rights; they are not European Commission sites and do not reflect its opinions:

• Social pension - basic details on the ZUS website
• A detailed description of the procedure for awarding benefits through ZUS

European Commission websites and publications:

• Welfare benefits: your rights abroad as EU residents

Who do I contact?

Ministry of Family and Social Policy - Department of Social Insurance (in relation to the social pension, medical care supplement and supplementary benefit for persons unable to live independently)
ul. Nowogrodzka 1/3/5
00-513 Warsaw
Tel.: +48 538117390
Internet: www.gov.pl/rodzina
Email: info@mrips.gov.pl

Ministry of Family and Social Policy - Family Policy Department (in relation to the medical care allowance)
ul. Nowogrodzka 1/3/5
00-513 Warsaw
Tel. +48 22 539117230
Internet: www.gov.pl/rodzina
Email: info@mrips.gov.pl

Social Insurance Institute (ZUS) – Headquarters (in relation to the social pension, medical care supplement and supplementary benefit for persons unable to live independently)
ul. Szamocka 3, 5
01-748 Warsaw
Internet: www.zus.pl

ZUS call centre
Consultation hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on working days. An automatic information system is available 24/7.
number intended for connections with mobile telephones and fixed and foreign lines: +48 225601600
Skype: zus_centrum_obslugi_tel
Email address for general enquiries: cot@zus.pl
Search engine of ZUS offices by place name or municipality and postcode