Poland and Germany to boost pensions for widows and children from 2027

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Poland and Germany to boost pensions for widows and children from 2027
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Poland will increase widow’s pension benefits starting Jan. 1, 2027, under a budget draft that raises the share of a second benefit included in the widow’s pension from 15% to 25%, the state social insurance institution ZUS announced. The change allows beneficiaries to combine their own pension or disability benefit with a portion of the deceased spouse’s pension, with the total capped at three times the minimum pension.
Under current rules, recipients choose between 100% of the family pension plus 15% of their own benefit, or 100% of their own benefit plus 15% of the family pension. The reform will automatically apply to existing recipients, with no new applications required, and payouts will reflect the higher rate from January 2027.
Example calculations cited by local media show monthly increases ranging from approximately 200 zł for a 2,275 zł benefit to 400 zł for a 5,400 zł benefit, depending on the base amount. The cap remains tied to the minimum pension, currently allowing a maximum combined payout of 5,935.47 zł brutto, expected to rise to about 6,170 zł after March 2027 indexation .
In Germany, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil introduced legislation for a state-subsidized “Frühstart-Rente” that will deposit 10 euros monthly into individual accounts for children born from 2020 onward, starting in 2027. The program aims to build long-term retirement savings through compound interest, with annual cohorts of six-year-olds added from 2027. Parents and grandparents may voluntarily top up the accounts, but withdrawals are restricted until age 65 .
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