In 2026, the general retirement age in Poland is 60 years for women and 65 years for men. After reaching this age, a person can apply for benefits or continue working to increase their future pension. This information is reported by In Poland.
At what age do you receive a pension in Poland in 2026
The right to a regular pension arises after reaching the established age:
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for women: at 60 years;
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for men: at 65 years.
For people born after December 31, 1948, the right to receive benefits arises with at least one credited pension contribution. However, the amount will directly depend on the accumulated capital and the duration of contributions.
Reaching retirement age does not mean mandatory cessation of work. A person can defer contacting ZUS, continue making contributions, and later apply for a higher payout.
Why do Poles continue to work after 60 and 65 years
Every additional year of work increases the amount of contributions in the ZUS account. At the same time, the projected payment period for the pension, over which the accumulated capital is divided, decreases. Both factors increase the monthly amount.
After reaching the general retirement age, retirees can mainly work without income restrictions. Earnings limits primarily apply to recipients of early pensions who have not yet reached 60 or 65 years.
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How many retirees work in Poland
At the end of 2025, 879,500 people combined work with receiving a pension. Over ten years, their number has increased by approximately 53%, although the share of working among all pension recipients remains at 13.7%.
Many older people work in small businesses or run their own. They are often engaged in trade, industry, healthcare, education, and agriculture. The main reasons remain the need for additional income and the desire to maintain professional activity.
Special conditions for early retirement are provided for certain professions. In particular, specific rules apply to teachers, law enforcement workers, and those engaged in difficult or harmful conditions.
It is worth noting that in Poland they want to impose 30-year sentences for violations in the army.