Who receives payment in case of an employee's death in Poland

In Poland, an employer is obliged to pay the family of a deceased employee a severance benefit. This social payment is intended to compensate part of the expenses and ease the financial situation of the family after the loss of the breadwinner. The amount depends on the seniority, and the right to assistance is not related to the cause of death. This is reported by InPoland.

Assistance in case of an employee's death: who is entitled

Severance assistance is not part of the inheritance and is intended only for the closest family members. Polish law clearly defines who can claim the payment:

• husband or wife, if the spouses were not legally divorced

• children – biological, adopted, as well as children of the other spouse

• students up to 25 years old or older if studying in the last year

• grandchildren, brothers and sisters or children under the care of the employee (no later than a year before death), provided they meet the age requirements

• parents, including stepmother, stepfather and adoptive parents.

If the employee has no relatives meeting these criteria, the employer does not pay assistance.

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Amount of payments in Poland depending on seniority

The amount of severance pay is determined by the rules used for calculating monetary equivalents. The key role is played by the employment seniority:

• monthly salary – if the employee worked for less than 10 years

• three-month salary – if the seniority is not less than 10 years

• six-month salary – if the seniority is over 15 years.

Important: assistance is paid only if the death occurred during official employment relations or when the employee was on sick leave or receiving disability assistance.

In Polish labor law, this payment is regarded as a separate form of social support that does not replace funeral or other insurance reimbursements. Its purpose is to provide the family with at least minimal financial stability during the period of loss.

Previously, we reported that Poland establishes new conditions for the employment of foreigners.