Pension ABC

Zaklad Ubezpieczen Spolecznych (ZUS)

A. Starting or changing my job (Employment - born before 1949)

B. My pension benefits (Employment - born before 1949)

C. Nearing retirement (Employment - born before 1949)

D. Starting or changing my job (Employment – born in 1949 and after)

E. My pension benefits (Employment – born in 1949 and after)

F. Nearing retirement (Employment – born in 1949 and after)


A. Starting or changing my job (Employment - born before 1949)

A1. When would I be registered with the statutory pension system in Poland?

You are covered by one-pillar statutory pension scheme. The statutory pension scheme managed by ZUS as well as all active population, except farmers and military service. There ist no a separate statutory pension regime for scientists.

For more information refer to the Pension Landscape in Poland.


A2. Who pays the contributions?

Pension contributions are paid both by an employee (50%) and by an employer (50%).


A3. Can I claim for a refund of my contributions if I leave Poland again?

No, you cannot claim for a refund of your contributions.


A4. Are my times of pension insurance in Poland recognized in other countries and vice versa?

Your insurance periods in Poland are recognized in UE countries + EEA + Switzerland and vice versa (according to general coordination rules) and as well in countries with those Poland has bilateral agreements.

Poland has bilateral agreements with: Australia, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Quebec (province of Canada), Serbia, South Korea, Ukraine and United States of America.


A5. What should I do before leaving Poland with regard to my statutory pension?

You do not need to do anything or to report to the pension institution. Just keep all your pay slips.

If you want to track your pension contributions in ZUS, please register your profile on PUE. To register an individual profile you need to go to any ZUS office in Poland to confirm your identity.


B. My pension benefits (Employment - born before 1949)

B1. What benefits and services does the Polish state pension scheme provide?

Polish pension scheme provide mainly old-age pension, survivors’ pension, funeral grant and some supplements (i.e. nursing supplement, veteran supplement).


B2. Is there a qualifying period for my statutory retirement pension?

In order to get a pension you need to gain retirement age (women 60 years and men 65) and have required insurance period (women 20 years and men 25 years).


B3. Are my times of pension insurance in Poland taken into account in other countries and vice versa?

Your insurance periods in Poland are recognized in UE countries + EEA + Switzerland and vice versa (according to general coordination rules) and as well in countries with those Poland has bilateral agreements.

Poland has bilateral agreements with: Australia, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Quebec (province of Canada), Serbia, South Korea, Ukraine and United States of America.


B4. How high will my state pension entitlements acquired in Poland be?

Your pension will be calculated on the basis of gross salary and number of insurance periods. You may estimate your future pension using the simulation tool at your ZUS profile with the assistance of PUE.


C. Nearing retirement (Employment - born before 1949)

C1. When can I claim for my statutory pension in Poland?

To get a pension you need to gain retirement age (women 60 years and men 65) and have required insurance period (women 20 years and men 25 years).

You may enquire about your pension insurance, paid contributions and pension entitlements at any time – at ZUS office or at your ZUS profile on PUE.


C2. Where do I apply for a pension if I do not live in Poland?

You can apply for a pension

  • at the pension office in your country of residence (UE or EFTA) or at the pension office in the country where you were last employed (UE or EFTA),
  • via the Internet www.pue.zus.pl (It is required prior to come personally once to any ZUS office to confirm your identity),
  • by sending by the post to any ZUS office, the best to the ZUS office dedicated for EU countries (see the list below)

If you worked in Poland and in other EU country(ies) you may also contact with one of the dedicated ZUS branches according to your last country of employment:

Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Italy
Łódź I Branch Office,
International Treaty Performance Department
ul. Zamenhofa 2, 90-431 Łódź

Czech Republic, Slovakia
Nowy Sącz Branch Office
International Treaty Performance Department
ul. Węgierska 11, 33-300 Nowy Sącz

Austria, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Switzerland
Tarnów Branch Office
International Treaty Performance Department
ul. Kościuszki 32, 33-100 Tarnów

Germany
Opole Branch Office
International Treaty Performance Department
ul. Wrocławska 24, 45-701 Opole

Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Sweden
Szczecin Branch Office
International Treaty Performance Department
ul. Matejki 22, 70-530 Szczecin

Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Romania
Warsaw I Branch Office
International Treaty Performance Department
ul. Kasprowicza 151, 01-949 Warszawa

United Kingdom
Gdańsk I Branch Office
Division for Implementation of International Agreements
ul. Chmielna 27/33, 80-748 Gdańsk

Portugal, Spain
Division for Implementation of International Agreements
Rzeszów Branch Office
al. Piłsudskiego 12, 35-075 Rzeszów

You may obtain information via:


C3. Can I apply for a state pension in Poland if I’m still working in another country?

If you work in Poland or in another country to start your retirement in Poland you have to cease your employment at least for one day. And after that you may continue your employment with the current or new employer.


C4. Does my work in another country affect my pension entitlements and the beginning of my retirement in Poland?

If you work in another UE or EFTA country or in a country with those Poland has bilateral agreement. Yes, your work in another may affect your pension entitlements, in Poland only when you don’t have efficient insurance period in Poland to fulfill the conditions for pension. It means when you don’t have proper insurance period in Poland to get pension, ZUS will take into consideration your insurance period in another country.

If you work in Poland or in another country to start your retirement. in Poland you have to cease your employment at least for one day. And after that you may continue your employment with the current or new employer.


C5. How high will my state pension entitlements acquired in Poland be?

Your pension will be calculated on the basis of gross salary and number of insurance period. You may estimate your future pension using the simulation tool using the simulation tool at your ZUS profile with the assistance of PUE.


C6. How will the pension be paid out?

There are several types of benefits payment:

  • directly to your bank account in Poland, EU or EFTA countries or in country with those Poland has the bilateral agreement
  • in cash via the Post in Poland to you directly or to other person you authorize in ZUS

Remember that ZUS pays all benefits in Polish Zloty (Polish currency). If you ask ZUS to transfer your benefit to another country, your bank will recalculate your benefit into currency of the state of your bank. For example: if you ask to transfer your benefit to the bank account in France, the bank will recalculate the benefit into euro. ZUS does not charge any fee for a bank transfer.


D. Starting or changing my job (Employment – born in 1949 and after)

D1. When would I be registered with the statutory pension system in Poland?

You are covered by two-pillar statutory pension scheme managed by ZUS (first pillar) and by Open Pension Fund (OFE). For more information refer to the Pension Landscape in Poland. Scientists are covered by the statutory pension scheme as well as all active population, except farmers and military service. There is no a separate statutory pension regime for scientists.

Since 1st February 2014 you may opt if you want that your pension contribution will go only to ZUS or to share your pension contribution between ZUS and OFE. If you decide to share your pension contribution between ZUS and OFE you have to choose Open Pension Fund - one of 12. If you do not join any OFE your pension contribution will be registered automatically in ZUS.


D2. Who pays the contributions?

Pension contributions are paid both by an employee (50%) and by an employer (50%).


D3. Can I claim for a refund of my contributions if I leave Poland again?

You cannot claim for a refund of your contributions.


D4. Are my times of pension insurance in Poland taken into account in other countries and vice versa?

Your insurance periods in Poland are recognized in EU countries + EEA + Switzerland and vice versa (according to general EU coordination rules) and in in countries with those Poland has bilateral agreements.

Poland has bilateral agreements with: Australia, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Quebec (province of Canada), Serbia, South Korea, Ukraine and United States of America.

In general it is not applicable for your pension entitlements unless it is necessary to fulfill the requirements to gain the minimum pension.


D5. What should I do before leaving Poland with regard to my statutory pension?

You do not need to do anything or to report to the pension institution. Just keep all your pay slips.

If you want to track your pension contributions in ZUS, please register your profile on PUE. To register an individual profile you need to go to any ZUS office in Poland to confirm your identity.

You may enquire about your pension insurance, paid contributions and pension entitlements at any time – at ZUS office or at your ZUS profile on PUE.

If you worked in Poland before 1999 it is necessary to visit ZUS office to ask about your initial capital as soon as possible. Initial capital is taken into account in old-pension calculation for insurance periods before 1999. After 1999 all pension contributions are registered on individual accounts of insured person.


E. My pension benefits (Employment – born in 1949 and after)

E1. What benefits and services does the Polish state pension scheme provide?

Polish pension scheme provide mainly old-age pension, survivors’ pension, funeral grant and some supplements (i.e. nursing supplement, veteran supplement).


E2. Is there a qualifying period for my statutory retirement pension in Poland?

To get a pension you need to gain retirement age and pay at least one contribution, no working period is required. It is required only to gain minimum pension. In this case you need to have minimum insurance period (20 years women, 25 years men).


E3. Are my times of pension insurance in Poland taken into account in other countries and vice versa?

Your insurance periods in Poland are recognized in EU countries + EEA + Switzerland and vice versa (according to general EU coordination rules) and in in countries with those Poland has bilateral agreements.

Poland has bilateral agreements with: Australia, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Quebec (province of Canada), Serbia, South Korea, Ukraine and United States of America.

In general it is not applicable for your pension entitlements unless it is necessary to fulfill the requirements to gain the minimum pension.


E4. Can I pay voluntary contributions in order to qualify for a pension?

You may make your own voluntary contributions to ZUS for your old-age and disability insurance. You cannot separate this types of insurances. There is a condition for voluntary insurance – you have to live in Poland, not to be insured due to employment or self-employment and be below your statutory retirement age.


E5. How high will my state pension entitlements acquired in Poland be?

Your pension will be calculated on the basis of your contributions and life expectancy at the moment of your retirement.

You may estimate your future pension using the simultation tool at your ZUS profile with the assistance of PUE.

If you are over 35 every year ZUS will send you an estimation of your pension by post or ZUS will attach this information at your PUE profile.


F. Nearing retirement (Employment – born in 1949 and after)

F1. When can I claim for my statutory pension in Poland?

To get a pension you need to gain retirement age (60 years women, 65 years men).

If you worked in Poland before 1999 it necessary to visit ZUS office to ask about your initial capital as soon as possible. Initial capital is taken into account in old-pension calculation for insurance periods before 1999. After 1999 all pension contributions are registered on individual accounts of insured person.


F2. Where do I apply for a pension if I do not live in Poland?

You can apply for a pension

  • at the pension office in your country of residence (EU) or at the pension office in the country where you were last employed (EU),
  • via the Internet www.pue.zus.pl (It is required prior to come personally once to any ZUS office to confirm your identity),
  • by sending by the post to any ZUS office, the best to the ZUS office dedicated for EU countries (see the list below)

If you worked in Poland and in other EU country(ies) you may also contact with one of the dedicated ZUS branches according to your last country of employment:

Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Italy
Łódź I Branch Office,
International Treaty Performance Department
ul. Zamenhofa 2, 90-431 Łódź

Czech Republic, Slovakia
Nowy Sącz Branch Office
International Treaty Performance Department
ul. Węgierska 11, 33-300 Nowy Sącz

Austria, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Switzerland
Tarnów Branch Office
International Treaty Performance Department
ul. Kościuszki 32, 33-100 Tarnów

Germany
Opole Branch Office
International Treaty Performance Department
ul. Wrocławska 24, 45-701 Opole

Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Sweden
Szczecin Branch Office
International Treaty Performance Department
ul. Matejki 22, 70-530 Szczecin

Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Romania, Great Britain
Warsaw I Branch Office
International Treaty Performance Department
ul. Kasprowicza 151, 01-949 Warszawa

United Kingdom
Gdańsk I Branch Office
Division for Implementation of International Agreements
ul. Chmielna 27/33, 80-748 Gdańsk

Portugal, Spain
Division for Implementation of International Agreements
Rzeszów Branch Office
al. Piłsudskiego 12, 35-075 Rzeszów

You may obtain information via:

  • the ZUS Telephone Service Centre (COT): + 48 22 560 16 00 from landline and mobile phones (cost of the call by the client agreement with a telecommunications operator)
  • e-mail: cot@zus.pl

F3. Can I apply for a state pension in Poland if I’m still working in another country?

If you work in Poland or another country  - to start your retirement in Poland you have to cease your employment at least for one day. And after that you may continue your employment with the current or new employer.


F4. Does my work in another country affect my pension entitlements and the beginning of my retirement in Poland?

No, the fact you still work in Poland or in another country will not affect your pension entitlements, pension amount and beginning of your retirement. You have to cease your employment at least for one day. And after that you may continue your employment with the current or new employer.


F5. How high will my state pension entitlements acquired in Poland be?

Your pension will be calculated on the basis of your contributions and life expectancy at the moment of your retirement.

You may estimate your future pension using the simulation tool at your ZUS profile with the assistance of PUE.

If you are over 35 every year ZUS will send you an estimation of your pension by post.


F6. How will the pension be paid out?

There are several types of benefits payment:

  • directly to your bank account in Poland, EU or EFTA countries or in country with those Poland has the bilateral agreement
  • in cash via the Post in Poland to you directly or to other person you authorize in ZUS


Remember that ZUS pays all benefits in Polish Zloty (Polish currency). If you ask ZUS to transfer your benefit to another country, your bank will recalculate your benefit into currency of the state of your bank. For example: if you ask to transfer your benefit to the bank account in France, the bank will recalculate the benefit into euro. ZUS does not charge any fee for a bank transfer.