Data show that by the end of April, ZUS received almost 8.5 thousand applications, of which about 5.6 thousand were considered. The first payments, totaling about PLN 18.5 million, went to 1.5 thousand people. There is no income criterion, and the benefit is available regardless of age.
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Support Allowance is a new form of financial support for adults with disabilities, introduced as of 2024. Its aim is to partially cover expenses related to meeting the special living needs of these people. Importantly, the granting of the benefit is not based on an income criterion, but on a specific level of need for support.
Who can apply for support benefits?
People with disabilities over the age of 18 can apply for support benefits. It is available regardless of income and other forms of support that people with disabilities receive. The basic condition is to obtain a decision specifying the level of support required between 70 and 100 points.
Benefit Entry Stages
Although the support benefit officially came into effect at the beginning of 2024, it is being provided in stages, depending on the level of support need granted:
- As of January 1, 2024: For people with a support level of 87 to 100 points.
- As of January 1, 2025: For people with a support level of 78 to 86 points.
- As of January 1, 2026: For people with a support level of 70 to 77 points.
Amount of support benefit
The amount of the benefit directly depends on the number of points awarded and is linked to the amount of the social pension. The higher the level of need for support, the higher the benefit:
- 95-100 points: 220% of the social pension (PLN 3918.11)
- 90-94 points: 180% of the social pension (PLN 3205.73)
- 85-89 points: 120% of the social pension (PLN 2137.15)
- 80-84 points: 80% of the social pension (PLN 1,424.77)
- 75-79 points: 60% of the social pension (1068.58 PLN)
- 70-74 points: 40% of the social pension (PLN 712.38)
The benefit amount will be subject to annual indexation, just like the social pension (as of March 1, 2024, it is PLN 1,780.96).
How do I get support benefits?
The application process for the benefit consists of two stages. First, the person with a disability must obtain a decision from the Regional Disability Assessment Team (WZON) determining the level of need for support. The application can be submitted electronically via the EMP@TIA portal, directly on WZON or through the Regional Disability Assessment Team.
After receiving the WZON decision, the disabled person submits an application to ZUS for payment of support benefits. The application must be submitted online only: via the ZUS PUE, the EMP@TIA portal or e-banking.
Support services are an important step towards increasing support for adults with disabilities. Independence from income criteria and linking the amount of the benefit to the level of support required are two key elements of this solution. Although the application process requires completing several stages, the first payments show that the system is starting to work and is already helping people who need this support.
Editor-in-Chief of the website. Graduate of Journalism and Political Science from the University of Warsaw.
