Pensions in Poland: retirement age, minimum pension, EU years
Short answer: ZUS says retirement age is 60 for women and 65 for men, with at least one day of contributions. The lowest pension is 1,978.49 zł from 1 March 2026. EU insurance years are added together.
If you work in Poland, you pay pension contributions to ZUS (the Social Insurance Institution), and those contributions count towards a Polish old-age pension. This guide explains who qualifies, the retirement age, what the lowest guaranteed pension is, and how years worked in other EU countries are added together. All figures come from ZUS and gov.pl pages read on 15 October 2026. Pension rules are long and have many exceptions, so use this as an overview and check your own case with ZUS.
Retirement age and the basic condition
According to ZUS, since 1 October 2017 the general retirement age is 60 for women and 65 for men. For people born after 31 December 1948, ZUS says it will grant a pension if:
- you reach the general retirement age (60 for women, 65 for men)
- social insurance or pension contributions were paid for at least one day, for example as an employee or a sole trader outside farming
- you do not already have a pension granted because of an increased retirement age
The pension is paid from the month in which you apply, but not earlier than the day you reach retirement age. The size of the pension depends on the contributions recorded on your account, so one day of contributions gives you a right to a pension but a very small one.
The lowest guaranteed pension
ZUS publishes minimum amounts that apply from 1 March 2026. The lowest old-age pension, total incapacity pension, social pension and family pension is 1,978.49 zł. The partial incapacity pension is 1,483.87 zł. ZUS also lists the pre-retirement benefit at 1,993.76 zł. The same table says that all ZUS pensions and allowances were raised from 1 March by 5.3 percent, automatically and without an application.
The minimum amount is a floor that applies when the calculated pension is lower and the legal conditions are met. ZUS lists conditions separately, so do not assume you get the minimum just by reaching the age.
Working while receiving a pension
ZUS publishes income limits for people who draw a pension and work. For the settlement period from 1 March 2026, the permissible monthly income is 2,225.90 zł (25% of the average wage), and the limit above which the pension is suspended is 6,232.50 zł (70%). Annual amounts are 26,710.80 zł and 74,790 zł. These limits matter for people who retire before the general retirement age. ZUS explains the rules for each group, so check which one applies to you.
Years worked in other EU countries
If you have worked in Poland and in other countries covered by EU social security coordination, years of insurance are added together. According to gov.pl, work in each country counts towards the insurance record needed in the others, for both employees and the self-employed. Each country then calculates its own part of the pension in proportion to the time you were insured there.
The ministry gives an example. A man worked 8 years in Poland, 8 in Norway, 6 in Sweden and 3 in Denmark, so 25 years in total. Each country works out a theoretical pension for 25 years and pays a share in proportion: Poland 8/25, Norway 8/25, Sweden 6/25 and Denmark 3/25. You can claim a pension from a country if you were insured there for at least one year, and the combined periods give you the right. Periods shorter than a year are still added to your total by the other countries.
You do not have to file a separate application in each country. ZUS says you apply in the country where you live, and that institution sends the application to the other countries where you worked. You receive a separate decision from each one, and all institutions use the same application date. If you live in Poland, you can apply at the ZUS branch assigned to the country where you last worked, at the nearest ZUS branch, or through the PUE ZUS platform (with a trusted profile or a secure electronic signature, with paper attachments delivered separately). The forms are EMP with the EMZ attachment for an old-age pension.
Practical tips
- Check your contribution record on your PUE/eZUS account every year, and keep records of employment from other countries.
- Keep payslips and contracts. Periods that are missing from a register can be hard to prove later.
- If you worked in several EU or EFTA countries, apply in the country where you live when you reach the age in each of them.
- If you run a business, see our guide to ZUS contributions for business owners.
- Voluntary schemes such as IKE and IKZE can add to your savings. Our guide covers them.
* Photos: public domain and CC0 images via Wikimedia Commons.
Frequently asked questions
What is the retirement age in Poland?
ZUS states that since 1 October 2017 it is 60 for women and 65 for men.
Does work in another EU country count towards a Polish pension?
Yes. Insurance periods in EU and EFTA countries are added together, and each country pays a part in proportion to the time you were insured there, according to gov.pl and ZUS.
How much is the minimum pension in Poland?
From 1 March 2026 the lowest guaranteed old-age pension is 1,978.49 zł, as published by ZUS. It applies only when the legal conditions are met.
