Warsaw, Poland – A new support benefit for disabled individuals in Poland increased on March 1, 2026, with payments ranging from 791 złoty to 4,353 złoty per month, depending on the assessed level of need. The benefit, formally known as “Świadczenie wspierające,” was established under the Act of July 7, 2023, and is intended to partially cover the costs of specific living needs for those with disabilities.
The amount of the benefit is tied to the national social pension (renta socjalna), which as of March 1, 2026, is 1,978.49 złoty. Individuals assessed as having a support need level of 70-74 points will receive 40% of the social pension, equating to 791 złoty. Those assessed at 75-79 points receive 60% (1,187 złoty), 80-84 points receive 80% (1,583 złoty), 85-89 points receive 120% (2,374 złoty), 90-94 points receive 180% (3,561 złoty), and those with the highest assessed need, 95-100 points, receive 220% of the social pension, or 4,353 złoty.
Prior to March 1, 2026, when the social pension stood at 1,878.91 złoty, benefit amounts were correspondingly lower: 752 złoty for 70-74 points, 1,127 złoty for 75-79 points, 1,503 złoty for 80-84 points, 2,255 złoty for 85-89 points, 3,382 złoty for 90-94 points, and 4,134 złoty for 95-100 points. All amounts are rounded up to the nearest whole złoty.
Eligibility for the benefit requires individuals to be over 18 years of age and possess a decision from a provincial team assessing disability needs (wojewódzki zespół do spraw orzekania o niepełnosprawności) confirming a support need level between 70 and 100 points. However, the benefit is not available to those residing in institutional care, such as social care homes, care and treatment facilities, or correctional institutions. Individuals receiving similar benefits abroad, or whose caregivers receive such benefits, are also generally ineligible, unless reciprocal social security agreements dictate otherwise.
The process for obtaining the benefit involves two stages. First, applicants must obtain a decision from the provincial disability assessment team. This process, mandated by the Act of August 27, 1997, on vocational and social rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons, is officially allotted three months. However, a February 3, 2025, intervention by the Polish Ombudsman for Citizens’ Rights (Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich) to the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy revealed significant delays, with some assessments taking many months longer.
Once the level of need is established, applicants must submit a request to the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), which handles the payment of the benefit. ZUS processes applications electronically and does not issue administrative decisions for approvals; applicants receive notification through the ZUS online portal. Administrative decisions are only issued in cases of denial or modification of benefits.
On August 27, 2025, a citizen’s petition was submitted to President Andrzej Duda calling for legislative action to provide the full benefit amount (currently 4,353 złoty as of March 1, 2026) to individuals with a significant degree of disability and inability to self-support, without requiring the assessment of support needs. The petition argued that the current system creates unnecessary bureaucracy and stress for those already facing significant challenges. The President’s office acknowledged the petition and forwarded it to the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy for analysis.
The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy has indicated that it is reviewing the law, with a focus on streamlining the assessment process and addressing the delays identified by the Ombudsman. A review of the law was adopted by the Council of Ministers on October 16, 2025, with recommendations for improvement. The Ministry is currently working on specific changes to the assessment process and eligibility criteria. As of today, the Ministry has not released a response to the President’s request for analysis.