Widow's Pension
New regulations allow for combining your own retirement or disability pension with a survivor's pension after a deceased spouse. No more choosing only one.
Estimate your widow's pension gain
Enter the gross amounts from your ZUS/KRUS decision (before tax, not take-home) — we'll show the approximate monthly top-up under Art. 95a of the FUS Act.
Merge rate: 15% of the second benefit (until 31 Dec 2026; rising to 25% from 1 Jan 2027). Cap: 3× the minimum pension.
The widow's pension rate rises to 25% in 2027, and the minimum pension is indexed yearly. Leave your e-mail — we'll let you know when the amounts change.
This is an estimate of the theoretical gain from the Art. 95a FUS formula — not a decision. The widow's pension requires an established survivor's pension, an application to ZUS and a positive administrative decision (Art. 95a sec. 5). The calculator does not verify the conditions (marital community, age of acquiring the pension) nor whether this combination is the most favourable for you.
Who can benefit?
- Persons of retirement age (60/65 years)
- Persons in marital community until the spouse's death
- Persons who have not entered into a new marriage
The sum of combined benefits cannot exceed three times the lowest pension.
Submitting applications
ZUS / KRUS
Applications for combined benefits will be accepted starting mid-2025.
Questions about the pension
- What is the limit?
- Currently, the limit is approx. 5,342.88 PLN gross.
- When will I get the money?
- First payments will start in July 2025.
- How does the widow's pension mechanism work?
- The widow's pension (formally: benefit concurrence) lets you receive your own benefit plus 50% of the survivor's pension after your deceased spouse — or vice versa: your own 50% plus the full survivor's pension. ZUS pays whichever combination is financially better.
- Who is eligible for the widow's pension?
- A widow or widower who: has reached age 60 (woman) or 65 (man), receives their own ZUS or KRUS benefit, had the right to a survivor's pension after the spouse, and was married for at least 5 years before the spouse's death.
- Is the widow's pension taxable?
- Yes. The combined amount of the two benefits is subject to PIT on general principles. ZUS withholds the income tax advance and the health contribution from the total gross amount.
Calculate your new pension
Check how much your benefit will increase after the widow's pension regulations take effect.
Pension calculator