[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"advice-en-dodatek-pielegnacyjny":3},{"slug":4,"title":5,"excerpt":6,"body":7,"datePublished":8,"dateModified":8},"dodatek-pielegnacyjny","Nursing supplement 2026 — PLN 366.68 from ZUS, rules, application","The nursing supplement in 2026 is PLN 366.68. See when ZUS grants it ex officio after age 75, how to file with OL-9 and how to appeal a refusal.","\u003Cp>The nursing supplement (dodatek pielęgnacyjny) is a regular top-up from ZUS added to a pension or disability pension, and from 1 March 2026 it is PLN 366.68 a month. Every pensioner receives it on turning 75, while a younger person — if the ZUS certifying physician declares them totally unfit for work and unable to live independently. After the 75th birthday ZUS grants it on its own, without an application.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>Two routes to the supplement\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>The basis is Article 75 of the Act on pensions from the Social Insurance Fund. The first condition is always the same: the person must already have an established right to a pension or disability pension. Beyond that, there are two independent paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ctable>\u003Cthead>\u003Ctr>\u003Cth>Situation\u003C\u002Fth>\u003Cth>What to do\u003C\u002Fth>\u003Cth>Medical assessment needed\u003C\u002Fth>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Fthead>\u003Ctbody>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>Pensioner who has turned 75\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>nothing, ZUS grants the supplement ex officio\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>no\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>Person under 75 in poor health\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>file an application with the OL-9 medical certificate\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>yes, assessed by the ZUS certifying physician\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\u003Cp>The amount does not depend on the size of the pension or family income. Every eligible person receives the same sum, which rises each year with the March indexation of benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>What the assessment terms mean\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>Before age 75, ZUS must find two things at the same time. Under Article 12 of the Act, a person is totally unfit for work if they have lost the ability to perform any work, not only work in their profession. Inability to live independently (Article 13(5)) is established when the state of health requires constant or long-term help from another person with basic needs such as eating, moving around the home, washing or dressing.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>A finding of partial incapacity for work alone or a disability degree certificate from a county panel is not enough. What counts is the assessment by the ZUS certifying physician or medical board.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>Application step by step (persons under 75)\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Col>\u003Cli>Ask the treating doctor to complete the OL-9 health certificate. It must be issued no earlier than one month before the application is filed.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Attach copies of medical documentation: hospital discharge letters, test results, specialist opinions.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>File the application for the nursing supplement at a ZUS branch, by post or electronically via PUE\u002FeZUS.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Attend the examination by the certifying physician if ZUS schedules one. In serious cases, an examination at the person's place of stay is possible.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Wait for the decision. ZUS issues it within 30 days of clarifying the last circumstance needed to decide — usually after the medical opinion is issued.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Fol>\u003Cp>The supplement is paid from the day the conditions are met, but no earlier than from the month in which the application was filed (Article 129). Delaying the application therefore means losing the money for the months in which the documents were not submitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>When the supplement is not due or may end\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cul>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Stay in a long-term care or nursing establishment\u003C\u002Fstrong> of more than 2 weeks in a month excludes payment for that month.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Fixed-term certificate.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Incapacity for work is as a rule certified for a maximum of 5 years, unless there is no prognosis of improvement. After that period expires, the person must undergo a new assessment, provided they are not yet 75.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Overlap with the municipal care allowance.\u003C\u002Fstrong> The two benefits are mutually exclusive. If someone was receiving the care allowance from the commune mayor and then ZUS granted the supplement, they must immediately notify the commune authority — otherwise undue benefit will arise and will have to be returned.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Ch2>Dodatek pielęgnacyjny vs zasiłek pielęgnacyjny\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>The names are similar, but these are different benefits:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cul>\u003Cli>the supplement is paid by ZUS (or another pension authority) together with the pension,\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>the allowance is granted by the commune under the Family Benefits Act, also to persons without a pension, e.g. children with disabilities,\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>a person entitled to the supplement cannot receive the allowance (Article 16(6)–(8) of the Family Benefits Act).\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Cp>The PIT Act excludes nursing supplements from the definition of pension (Article 12(7)), so they are not added to the taxable benefit amount.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>When ZUS refuses\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>An objection against the certifying physician's opinion can be filed with the ZUS medical board within 14 days of service (Article 14(2a) of the Pensions Act). The objection is filed through the ZUS unit competent for the place of residence. The ZUS decision itself can be challenged by an appeal to the social insurance court. It is filed in writing through ZUS within one month of service of the decision (Article 477⁹ § 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure); details are in the appeal instructions in the decision. In the objection it is worth addressing specific activities in which assistance is needed and attaching fresh documentation.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Example.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Mrs. Halina, 68, receives a pension. After a stroke she cannot dress herself or prepare meals. In April 2026 her daughter files the application on her behalf with an OL-9 certificate issued at the end of March. In June the certifying physician finds total incapacity for work and inability to live independently. ZUS pays the supplement with backdating to April, i.e. the month the application was filed. If the daughter had waited until June, April and May would have been lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>Practical tips for employers and families\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>For companies, the topic returns with employees caring for older parents. Knowledge of the supplement helps them sort out matters at ZUS, and the HR department can point to where the information is. It is also worth remembering that people over 75 do not need to submit anything — so if the supplement has not appeared, it is enough to ask ZUS for the reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Sources: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zus.pl\u002Fswiadczenia\u002Fdodatki-do-swiadczen-emerytalno-rentowych\u002Fdodatek-pielegnacyjny\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">description of the supplement on the ZUS website\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fisap.sejm.gov.pl\u002Fisap.nsf\u002FDocDetails.xsp?id=WMP2026000220\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">announcement of the President of ZUS (Monitor Polski 2026, item 220)\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.sejm.gov.pl\u002Feli\u002Facts\u002FDU\u002F2025\u002F1749\u002Ftext.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Act on pensions from the FUS\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>How Good Balance can help\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>We run HR and payroll for companies, including employee matters related to ZUS benefits. As part of the \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fservices\u002Fhr\u002Femployees\">employee HR service\u003C\u002Fa> we help put documents and deadlines in order, and in disputes with ZUS we prepare the objection or appeal as part of a \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fservices\u002Flegal\u002Fconsultation\">legal consultation\u003C\u002Fa>. For entrepreneurs planning future benefits we also recommend the article on an \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fadvice\u002Fpension-for-entrepreneurs\">entrepreneur's pension\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>","2026-10-09"]