The widow’s pension is a special form of survivor’s pension. It will also be possible to claim from the ZUS if there is a so-called benefit convergence. Alternatively, you are entitled to 100 percent of your current own benefit and 15 percent of your survivor’s pension or 15 percent of your previous benefit and 100 percent of your survivor’s pension. In total, however, it cannot exceed three times the minimum pension – in 2025.
Widow’s pension combined with other benefits: what conditions must be met
In order for the ZUS to be able to pay a new benefit together with a survivor’s pension from 1 January 2025, the following conditions must be met:
- be at least 60 years old (woman) and 65 years old (man),
- remain in a de facto union with him until the date of his spouse’s death,
- acquire the right to a survivor’s pension after your spouse has died, but not before the age of 55 (if you are a woman) and 60 (if you are a man),
- currently not married.
The right to payment of benefits combined with the survivor’s pension ceases on the day before the day of the celebration of the new marriage.
Widow’s pension with concurrent benefits: application and attachments
FOR ZUS to determine the overlap between benefits and survivor’s pensions and pay them, you must submit an application.
The application form for determining the overlap between benefits and survivors’ pensions (ERWD) will be available from 1 January 2025 on the ZUS website and at each branch of the Institute.
Applications can be submitted from 1 January 2025.
Is it necessary to attach any document to the application to determine the overlap of benefits?
If you are entitled to a survivor’s pension and a separate benefit, it is not necessary to attach any documents to the application for determining the cumulation of benefits and the survivor’s pension.
A person who has not yet submitted an application for a benefit (survivor’s pension or own benefits) that can be paid concurrently must attach to the submitted application the documents necessary for its consideration, for example, those currently required for the application for a survivor’s pension under the existing rules.
ZUS informs that if documents that it does not have are required to process such a request, it will request them.
Widow’s pension: when to pay from ZUS when benefits overlap
The right to payment of benefits together with the survivor’s pension will be granted by the ZUS from the month in which the application is submitted, but not before 1 July 2025.
The sum of the benefits accumulated with the survivor’s pension cannot exceed three times the minimum pension.
It should be remembered that this limit also includes benefits paid by foreign institutions and other than one-time benefits and allowances paid on the basis of the Act or separate regulations, together with the benefits indicated in the Act, the combination of which will be determined by the ZUS itself.
If the sum of the combined benefits exceeds three times the minimum pension, the ZUS will reduce the benefits by the exceeded amount. It will then issue a decision informing about the reduction of the benefits paid at the same time.
Widow’s pension and confluence of benefits with survivor’s pension
Are you entitled to a survivor’s pension, but are also entitled to another benefit? Check now to see if you can receive these benefits simultaneously.
What benefits will ZUS pay in addition to the survivor’s pension from January 1, 2025?
First: survivor’s pension and own benefit.
If you are a widower and are entitled to a survivor’s pension and your own benefits: old-age pension, agricultural pension, social security pension for individual farmers and their family members, military pension, police pension, pre-retirement allowance, pre-retirement pension, provisional pension, compensation allowance for teachers, disability pension including training pension, agricultural disability pension, agricultural training pension, social security pension for individual farmers and their family members, military disability pension or police disability pension
– you can choose to pay the ZUS: 100% of the survivor’s pension and 15% of the survivor’s pension or 100% of the survivor’s pension and 15% of the survivor’s pension.
Important! If you opt for the 100% survivor’s pension and are entitled to a retirement pension and a periodic capital pension, the ZUS will pay 15% of the Social Security Fund pension and 15% of the periodic capital pension.
However, the survivor’s pension is not only the one paid by the ZUS, but also the survivor’s pension paid by other pension authorities and disability pensions, i.e. the survivor’s pension for farmers as well as the military survivor’s pension and the police survivor’s pension.
Second: pensions and special benefits, including widow’s pension.
In the case of a special or disability pension granted by the Prime Minister or an honorary benefit granted upon reaching the age of 100, the ZUS may also determine the payment of these benefits simultaneously.
Likewise, in the case of widows and widowers who are entitled to cash benefits under the Act on Cash Benefits to Relatives of Officers or Professional Soldiers whose death occurred in the course of service or in the performance of activities outside of service to save human life or health or property – in this case, the ZUS may also establish its coincidence with another benefit.
Thirdly, the survivor’s pension and the right to benefits for incapacity for work caused by an accident at work or occupational disease.
In the event of overlapping benefits: survivor’s pension for widows or widowers and entitlement to an old-age pension and disability pension due to an accident at work or occupational disease, the ZUS can pay 100% of the survivor’s pension, 15% of the old-age pension and 50% of the disability pension for work from the accident insurance or 100% of the old-age pension, 15% of the survivor’s pension and 50% of the disability pension from the accident insurance. The third possible option is 100% of the disability pension from the accident insurance, 15% of the survivor’s pension and 50% of the old-age pension.
The ZUS will also apply these rules when a widow or widower is entitled to a survivor’s pension and concomitant benefits referred to in the provisions of the Act on the provision of services to war invalids and military personnel and their families.
