Pension calculations change from April 1, 2026

26 March 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

GUS updated life-expectancy tables, altering pension calculations from April 1, 2026. Learn who is affected and what expats should do.

On March 25, 2026 Poland’s Central Statistical Office (GUS) published a new life-expectancy table. Consequently, pension calculations will change from April 1, 2026. If you plan to apply for a pension soon, these numbers matter to you.

Table of Contents

Pension calculations and the new life tables

GUS updates these tables every year. Moreover, ZUS (Social Insurance Institution) uses them to set payout periods. The system divides a person’s accumulated pension capital by expected payout months. Therefore, a longer expected lifespan raises the months divisor. As a result, the monthly payout falls for the same capital.

For example, the 60-year value rose from 266.4 months in 2025 to 268.9 months in 2026. Furthermore, the 65-year value rose from 220.8 months to 222.7 months. Consequently, new applicants will see slightly lower payments compared with last year. Analysts calculate a 0.93 percent drop for 60-year-olds and 0.85 percent for 65-year-olds.

To put numbers in zloty, a person with 700,000 PLN capital will receive about 2,603 PLN gross monthly at age 60. By contrast, they would have received about 2,627 PLN last year. Therefore, the monthly gap equals roughly 24 PLN. Over twenty years this difference exceeds 5,700 PLN in total. Moreover, the 65-year example drops from about 3,170 PLN to 3,143 PLN.

In practice, the new figures change pension calculations only for claims filed from April 1, 2026. ZUS will apply the 2026 table to applications filed between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027. However, the office will not touch pensions already granted. Existing pensioners keep their current payments.

Who is affected and legal protections

Existing pensioners do not see automatic reductions. However, there is one exception. If a retiree returns to work and pays contributions, ZUS may recalculate those added contributions. In that case, ZUS will use the new table just for the added contributions. Importantly, the law gives another protection. ZUS compares the table valid at retirement age with the table on the application date. Then the office uses the more favorable table. This rule follows Article 26(4) of the pension law. Therefore, people around the March–April cutoff can often choose the better option.

If you reached retirement age between April 2025 and March 2026 and you have not applied yet, apply soon. Furthermore, tell ZUS explicitly that you want them to compare both tables. Also, keep in mind that the size of your accumulated capital affects the practical impact. The higher your capital, the larger the monthly difference.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you are an expat who paid social contributions in Poland, ZUS handles your pension rights. ZUS means Social Insurance Institution. PESEL is the national ID number many procedures require. NFZ refers to the public health fund. In addition, check your PUE ZUS online account for statements. Moreover, bilateral agreements may protect your rights if you worked abroad. Therefore, consult a bilingual pension advisor or your embassy’s social security office before you file.

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