In October 2026, Polish political party Konfederacja introduced a parliamentary bill dubbed the “15th pension” program, designed to exempt working seniors from a 1.5% employee-funded disability contribution. The measure aims to increase net monthly income by up to 139 PLN, providing an annual boost of 1,667 PLN without requiring bureaucratic applications.
Proposal Eliminates Disability Contributions for Working Retirees
- The Mechanism: Rather than issuing a direct cash transfer from state coffers, the proposal eliminates the 1.5% employee portion of the disability contribution for working retirees, leaving the employer’s contribution untouched.
- The Financial Impact: Beneficiaries earning the national average wage stand to save approximately 1,667 PLN annually, while those on minimum wage will retain about 865 PLN per year.
- The Legislative Status: Submitted to the Sejm in September 2026 and forwarded to parliamentary committees in October 2026, the bill’s fiscal cost is estimated at 480 million PLN annually for the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS).
Legislative Mechanics and the 1.5 Percent Rent Contribution
The legislative proposal, formally entered into the Sejm workflow on September 18, 2026, targets the structural mechanics of mandatory social security deductions for economically active retirees. Under current regulations, the total disability contribution sits at 8% of the assessment base. Of that figure, employers cover 6.5%, while employees face a direct deduction of 1.5% from their gross wages. Konfederacja lawmaker Ryszard Wilk argued that because retired citizens cannot legally become disability pensioners again, extracting this 1.5% levy constitutes collecting payments for a risk that no longer applies.
The exemption applies exclusively to individuals holding established pension rights who remain professionally active on standard employment contracts or mandate contracts (umowa zlecenie
). Excluded from the scope are specific arrangements like task-based contracts (umowa o dzieło
), which bypass standard pension and disability contribution requirements. Dr. Antoni Kolek of Kozminski University told Fakt that the structural adjustment represents a targeted approach to easing financial pressures on seniors without engineering entirely new entitlement structures.
| Monthly Gross Wage | Monthly Savings (PLN) | Annual Savings (PLN) |
|---|---|---|
| 4,806 PLN (Minimum Wage) | ~72.00 | ~865.00 |
| 6,000 PLN | 90.00 | 1,080.00 |
| 7,000 PLN | 105.00 | 1,260.00 |
| 9,266 PLN (Average Wage) | ~139.00 | ~1,667.00 |
| 10,000 PLN | 150.00 | 1,800.00 |
State Budget Subsidies May Offset FUS Revenue Loss
According to data cited by lawmakers, hundreds of thousands of seniors remained active in the labor market at the close of 2025. Out of that total, a portion of individuals actively contributed to pension and disability funds. Eliminating the employee-side contribution reduces revenues for the Social Insurance Institution (FUS) by an estimated 480 million PLN per year.
To offset the resulting budget gap, the bill’s sponsors point toward two distinct funding streams. Lawmaker Krzysztof Szymański suggested utilizing direct state budget subsidies—comparable to funding allocations directed toward public media—alongside fiscal savings generated by separate legislative proposals intended to restrict benefits for foreign nationals. Proponents argue that the resulting net increase in senior take-home pay will incentivize extended workforce participation.
Sejm Committees Debate Economic Viability of the Bill
Following its arrival at the parliamentary desk, the bill cleared procedural hurdles on October 22, 2026, moving into the committee stage where representatives across political factions will debate its economic viability. The absence of mandatory paperwork or administrative overhead appeals to proponents of streamlining labor market policies.
Whether the measure gathers sufficient momentum to alter payroll deductions depends entirely on upcoming committee deliberations and floor votes in the Sejm. For the active senior demographic, the proposal establishes a direct test of legislative willingness to lower payroll burdens for older workers.
