Retire 5 years early? A large group will be able to do it soon

As you know, persons performing certain professions have the right to an earlier transition to the so-called. transitional pensions. This applies to persons born after December 31, 1948, who performed work in special conditions or of a special nature on a full-time basis.

Early retirement. Who is eligible?

“Fact” recalls the conditions that must be met to use the “bridge”:

• be at least 55 years old (women) or 60 years old (men);

• prove at least 15 years of work in special conditions or a special nature;

• have insurance experience of at least 20 years (women) or 25 years (men) (insurance and non-insurance periods);

• perform work before January 1, 1999 under special conditions or a special nature;

• after December 31, 2008, perform work under the special conditions or special nature listed in the Interim Pensions Act.

What does working under special conditions mean in practice? The newspaper recalls that these are tasks performed underground, on water or under water, in air in hot and cold microclimate conditions. The list of professions eligible for “bridges” includes, in particular: sea fishermen, pilots and ship personnel, crane operators, members of emergency medical teams, as well as professional dancers. The key date is January 1, 1999. Based on the current regulations, “bridges” expire, which means that future generations can no longer use them, even if they do hard work. The provisions in this regard are subject to change, which is what is supposed in the draft law adopted by the Seimas. The transitional pension will also be available to those people who in subsequent years performed work in difficult conditions or of a special nature. The new rules should come into effect next year.

Early retirement for teachers?

Parliament is working on provisions that will allow early retirement for teachers who started working before January 1, 1999 (teacher, educator or other teaching staff). These individuals will be required to have a documented record of at least 30 years, including at least 20 years of whiteboarding. Teachers will be able to retire in years starting September 1, 2024 (this applies to teachers born before September 1, 1966).

Early retirement will be calculated in the same way as if teachers retired by general age, i.e. what they have accumulated in their ZUS account divided by the expected life expectancy in months. This means that the sooner someone ends their professional career, the lower their benefits will be. The teacher’s pension cannot be lower than the minimum pension (currently PLN 1,588.44 gross). According to the calculations of the Ministry of Education, cited by Fact, in the case of women who retire early at the age of 53, the allowance will be about PLN 2,300 gross. Teachers will be able to earn extra money until they retire, but then they must keep an eye on earnings limits. If they exceed them, then ZUS will be able to reduce or suspend the payment of benefits (currently, with an additional income of PLN 4,987, the early old-age pension is reduced, it is suspended at the level of PLN 9,261.60). However, this job will only be available on a part-time basis. If a teacher wishes to work more or without the consent of the head of the education department, he must take into account that the payment of such a pension will be suspended regardless of the earnings achieved. The reform will take effect next year.