Ukrainians who have reached retirement age and have the required insurance experience can count on an additional payment to the minimum pension in Poland. This payment is made by the Polish social insurance institution provided that a number of requirements are met, including having at least a short period of official work in the country. InPoland writes about it.
Additional Payment to the Minimum Pension in Poland for Ukrainians: Main Conditions
Citizens of Ukraine are entitled to a minimum pension in Poland if they meet the general requirements of Polish legislation. These include age and insurance duration, as well as mandatory participation in the social insurance system.
To receive the additional payment, it is necessary:
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to have a minimum of 20 years of insurance experience for women and 25 years for men
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to reach retirement age of 60 years for women and 65 years for men
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to have officially worked in Poland for at least one month and paid contributions to ZUS
As of January 2026, the minimum pension in Ukraine was 2595 hryvnias, or about 214 zlotys, while the minimum pension in Poland was 1878.91 zlotys. This difference is compensated by the Polish side.
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Expenditures on Additional Payments for Ukrainians in Poland are Rapidly Growing
The additional payment to the minimum pension is paid only under the condition of permanent residence in Poland. If you leave for Ukraine, the right to a Polish pension is lost. ZUS checks the fact of residence, and in case of violations, the institution may demand a refund.
According to the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, expenses for such additional payments are increasing every year. If in 2020 they were 221.8 thousand zlotys, by 2024 they had reached 865.2 thousand zlotys. In the period from January to October 2025, the total payments exceeded 1.26 million zlotys.
Let us remind you that the difference between the highest and lowest pensions in Poland in 2026 reaches tens of thousands of zlotys. According to the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), the maximum pension is 51,400 zlotys gross, while the minimum payment is limited to just a few coins.