Widow's pension for more seniors? Calls to change regulations

The widow's or widower's pension allows for the simultaneous payment of a survivor's pension (after the deceased spouse) and another retirement or disability benefit. Legislators have provided the option of receiving 100% of one benefit and a portion of the other (initially 15%, and from January 1, 2027, 25%).

Payment of a widow's pension is possible after submitting the appropriate application and meeting all the requirements specified by law. Many seniors believe that the age criterion is particularly unfair.

The right to receive a widow's pension is conditioned by three basic criteria that must be met:

• having the right to a survivor's pension after the deceased spouse and the right to one's own retirement and disability pension benefit at the same time
• remaining in community of property until the death of the spouse
• the right to a survivor's pension cannot be acquired earlier than five years before reaching retirement age

On June 18, 2025, seniors from the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship submitted a petition to the Prime Minister, demanding, among other things:

• deletion of the limit of three times the minimum pension
• abandoning the introduction of income criteria or restrictions that exclude people who have been widowed before

SEE: 100% salary while on sick leave? Poles can gain a lot in these cases.

On August 27, 2025 , a petition was submitted to the president by a mother of five who was widowed at the age of 47. She requests that the age criterion be abolished or significantly modified so that those who lost their spouses prematurely (according to the legislature) do not lose their right to additional financial resources.

"My husband's death occurred too early within the meaning of the regulations. This circumstance, beyond my control, deprived me and thousands of other widows of the support they deserve from the state," she argued in the petition, which was quoted by "Fakt."

From a legal and social perspective, the age criterion for receiving a widow's pension leads to significant selection bias . It excludes people who lost their partner very early in life and often find themselves in a much more difficult situation (e.g., single parents raising young children, people with financial obligations).

SEE: Widow's pension will undergo significant changes. Many seniors will significantly benefit.

According to opponents of these solutions, this criterion contradicts the principles of social justice and equal treatment of policyholders who have paid contributions for years.

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