ZUS raises funeral allowance; digital shift from 2027

20 August 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Poland increased the funeral benefit ZUS to PLN 7,000 and will digitize funeral claims in 2027, easing paperwork for families and funeral homes.

Poland just changed a key social benefit and the change matters for expats. The funeral benefit ZUS rose to PLN 7,000 from January 1, 2026, and authorities plan an electronic claims channel for funeral homes in 2027.

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What changed in 2026 and why it matters

The government raised the flat benefit to PLN 7,000. Consequently, beneficiaries can receive more help with immediate costs. Moreover, ZUS (Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych, the Polish social insurance institution) shortened the payment deadline. Therefore, the law now requires payouts within 14 days after ZUS clarifies the last needed fact. In practice, the average payout takes around nine days. This faster cash flow matters. Families often face urgent bills for a coffin, burial plot, transport, and ceremony.

Who can get the money and how it is paid

A family member who paid for the funeral can claim the full PLN 7,000. However, a non-relative, a municipality, or an employer can claim only documented costs. In such cases, ZUS refunds expenses up to PLN 7,000. If several people share funeral costs, ZUS splits the benefit proportionally. In addition, applicants may provide invoices and receipts. These documents matter more when multiple payers or institutions handle the burial.

funeral benefit ZUS: digital step due in 2027

From 2027 ZUS will introduce an electronic system for funeral homes. Consequently, funeral directors can submit applications and supporting files online. Moreover, this change will reduce paper handling and speed up processing. The industry already often acted as an intermediary. Therefore, the new solution will formalize and simplify that role.

Importantly, applicants can authorize a funeral home to receive funds directly from ZUS. This option helps families without ready cash. For example, the firm can get payment for its invoice. The remaining balance then goes to the person who covered other costs.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you must arrange a funeral in Poland, keep all invoices and receipts. ZUS (Poland’s social insurance office) can use public registers like the civil registry to check facts, but it still needs originals in complex cases. You can let a funeral home submit the claim. Also note that Polish systems use identifiers like PESEL (national ID number) for procedures. Finally, social welfare rules may offer extra help for extraordinary costs, such as repatriation of remains.

Beyond paperwork, the reform introduces a simple valuation rule. The law ties future increases to a price index. In short, ZUS will adjust the benefit only if yearly inflation exceeds five percent. Therefore, the amount will not rise automatically each year. This approach aims to balance cost-of-living protection and fiscal restraint.

Finally, remember that this benefit differs from rules on cemeteries and graves. Those rules come from a separate 1959 law. Consequently, families should also check local cemetery regulations. Moreover, funeral industry representatives asked lawmakers to clarify grave rights and other practical issues during recent hearings.

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