The Social Insurance Institution is preparing to pay out the thirteenth pensions. The first deadline falls on April 1, which is a holiday Monday. This means that the first thirteenths will reach retirees and pensioners before Easter.
– Retirees and pensioners have reasons to be happy in April. It is in this month that they will receive their thirteenth pension along with their regular benefits. Beneficiaries whose pension or disability pension payment dates are set for the 1st day of the month will receive their thirteenth pension at the end of March, just before the Easter holidays – says Beata Kopczyńska, regional press spokesperson for ZUS in the Silesian Voivodeship. The “thirteenth” is equal to the minimum pension. This year it is the amount of 1780.96 PLN gross. To receive this benefit, no application needs to be submitted, ZUS will grant it automatically.
Who is eligible for the “thirteenth”?
An additional annual cash benefit is due to individuals who are entitled to receive a pension as of March 31st, including bridge pensions, periodic capital pensions, partial pensions, disability pensions – including pensions for war and military invalids and accident pensions, training pensions, social pensions, family pensions – including family pensions for war or military invalids and accident family pensions, parental supplementary benefit, cash benefits for civilian blind victims of wartime activities, teacher compensatory benefits, pre-retirement benefits and allowances.
When will the payment be made?
The thirteenth pensions will be paid together with the basic benefit, on the date of its payment. These payments occur on the 1st, 6th, 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th day of each month. – The principle is that payments are made so that the money reaches the clients by the designated date. Therefore, if the payment date falls on a non-working day, it will be paid early enough so that by the last working day, just before the payment date, the funds will reach the retiree or pensioner, regardless of whether they receive the benefit in their bank account or by mail – informs the spokesperson.
Individuals who receive benefits on April 1, 6, and 20 will receive them respectively earlier, i.e. no later than March 29, April 5, and April 19. People who receive pre-retirement benefits and allowances, whose thirteenth payment date is May 1, will also receive it earlier. Due to the fact that it is a non-working day, the thirteenth should reach the beneficiaries no later than April 30.
Family pension and thirteenth pension
In the case of a family pension received by several entitled persons (e.g. a widow and orphaned child), only one cash benefit is granted and it is divided equally among all entitled persons.
The situation is similar when there is an overlap in the right to benefits (e.g. pensions from ZUS and KRUS or a pension paid together with an accident pension). The entitled person is entitled to only one “thirteenth”. If the benefits are paid by two different pension institutions, then ZUS will pay this “additional pension” – explains the spokesperson.
ZUS press release