Poland’s government in August adopted a plan under which all Polish nationals who reach the age of 100 would automatically receive special monthly payments regardless of their entitlement to pensions or annuities.
The lower house of parliament on Friday approved those plans in a 408-16 vote with one abstention.
The legislation, drawn up by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, now goes to the Senate, the upper house of Poland's parliament, for further debate.
The measure aims to replace the current ad hoc mechanism established in 1972, which provides these benefits as exceptional allowances through the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), state news agency PAP reported.
The payments, set at PLN 6,246.13 (around USD 1,580) gross per month, would start on January 1, 2025.
The bill also introduces an annual adjustment to these payments starting March 1, 2025, following the same principles as those used for pension and annuity indexation, to ensure that the benefits keep pace with inflation, officials have said.
The new rules aim to ensure legal predictability and fairness for the oldest segment of the population, addressing the need for consistent financial support as they reach this significant milestone, according to the government.
Poland is home to around 6,000 centenarians, a number expected to grow due to increasing life expectancy, the PAP news agency reported.
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Source: IAR, PAP