ZUS:

However, if we have not reached retirement age, we must ensure that our income does not result in a reduction or suspension of the benefit paid by ZUS. Earnings limits change every three months.

When is a pension or disability benefit subject to reduction?

A pension or disability benefit is reduced when the income earned is higher than 70 percent of the average monthly salary in the country. From June 1, this amount will be PLN 3,732.10. The benefit is suspended when the income exceeds the upper limit, that is, 130 percent of the average salary. From June 1, this amount will be PLN 6,931.00. These amounts will apply until August 31, 2020, and will change in three months.

When the threshold of 70 percent of the average salary is exceeded, the benefit is reduced by the amount of the excess; at most, when the excess is higher than the maximum reduction amount, it is reduced by:

  • PLN 620.37 for a pension and a disability benefit due to total incapacity for work;
  • PLN 465.31 for a disability benefit due to partial incapacity for work;
  • PLN 527.35 for a survivor’s pension to which one person is entitled.

– People who have already reached retirement age do not need to worry about the limits at all. Women who have turned 60 and men who are already 65 can earn additional income without any limits – says Iwona Kowalska-Matis, ZUS regional press spokesperson in Lower Silesia.

ZUS will neither take away, reduce nor suspend the pension of those who have reached “full” retirement status. The situation is different for people who are already receiving a pension or pre-retirement benefit but still have some time before attaining “full” retiree status. Every year, by the end of February, these people must settle their additional income with ZUS because earnings limits apply to them. Exceeding them results in the suspension or reduction of payments from ZUS.

– They should also monitor the limits during the year so that, when they exceed them, they can inform ZUS, which will reduce the payment and prevent them from having to return money at the end of the year – explains I. Kowalska-Matis.

ZUS:

In summary, pensioners and disability-benefit recipients who have not yet reached the statutory retirement age—60 for women and 65 for men—must notify ZUS of the income earned in a given year and of the settlement system they have chosen, monthly or annual, depending on which is more beneficial for the recipient.

If they do not inform ZUS about additional income, they will have to repay benefits received improperly. To avoid this, it is advisable to visit ZUS and report projected income.

The obligation to inform ZUS about additional earnings applies to people who have not yet reached the general retirement age, regardless of whether they work full-time or only under a contract of mandate or a specific-task contract. Depending on how high their income is, ZUS will periodically reduce the amount of the benefit paid or suspend its payment.

ZUS adds:

This obligation does not apply to people who have already reached retirement age, meaning those who have an established right to a pension and have reached the age entitling them to general retirement, or to people receiving from ZUS disability benefits for war veterans, military invalids whose incapacity for work is related to military service, or survivor’s pensions payable after people entitled to those benefits.