Early retirement in Poland, including bridging retirement, is a special benefit that allows you to end your professional career before reaching the statutory retirement age – 60 for women and 65 for men. However, this option is not available to everyone – the regulations clearly specify which professional groups can take advantage of it and what criteria must be met.
Table of Contents
- Early Retirement in Poland – What Is It About?
- What Professions Qualify For a Bridging Pension?
- Early Retirement in Poland And Other Professions Of a Specific Nature
- Early Retirement in Poland – When Can You Claim It?
- Is It Worth Taking Early Retirement in Poland?
- Which Periods Do Not Qualify As Service in Special Conditions?
- Early Retirement in Poland – Summary
- FAQ – Questions And Answers About Early Retirement in Poland
Early Retirement in Poland – What Is It About?
Since 1 October 2017, Polish law has implemented the lower general retirement age. However, there are still possibilities for earlier retirement.
- People born after 31 December 1948 can claim early retirement under specific regulations. For example, bridging pensions, compensation benefits, or pensions under uniformed services schemes.
- The legal basis is the Act of 19 December 2008 on bridging pensions.
- The catalogue of jobs entitling to early retirement is closed. It includes professions that are particularly health-burdening or require exceptional psychophysical fitness.
What Professions Qualify For a Bridging Pension?
Qualification for a bridging pension depends on working in special conditions or in a job of special character. These are listed in the annexes to the Act.
The most common professional groups include:
- mining and metallurgy sector – e.g. underground work, blast furnace operation, aluminium production,
- energy sector – electricity generation and transmission, installation and repair of power equipment
- transport – bus drivers, train operators, aircrew,
- chemical industry – production of soda, sulphur, hydroxide, or asbestos handling,
- construction – deep excavation works, roofing, steel structure assembly at heights,
- health care – work in intensive care units, psychiatric wards or in a prosectorium,
- agriculture and fisheries – fishermen’s work, animal slaughter, tobacco leaf packaging.
Not every job in difficult or harmful conditions gives the right to early retirement. Only the employment listed in the Bridging Pensions Act qualifies.
Early Retirement in Poland And Other Professions Of a Specific Nature
Separate regulations provide for early retirement or other benefits for selected occupational groups.
- Uniformed services. Police officers, professional soldiers, firefighters, border guards and others have their own pension systems. They may retire after 15 or 25 years of service, often regardless of age.
- Teachers. They qualify for compensatory benefits (Article 88 of the Teacher’s Charter). It usually requires 30 years of service, including 20 years in teaching positions.
- Artists and creators. In selected artistic professions, early pensions are possible due to the need to maintain full psychophysical performance.
Early Retirement in Poland – When Can You Claim It?
To qualify for an early retirement or bridging pension, several conditions must be met together:
- age – usually 55 for women and 60 for men (may be lower in some cases, e.g. dancers, acrobats
- employment period– at least 20 years for women and 25 years for men,
- employment period in special conditions – usually at least 15 years,
- born after 31 December 1948,
- performing work under special conditions after 31 December 2008,
- documented employment periods – through employment certificates and employer confirmations.
Table: Professions entitling to early retirement in Poland – examples
| Industry/Sector | Example of qualifying positions | Conditions |
| Mining | underground miner, driller | underground work, health and accident risks |
| Energy | installer of power equipment, grid operator | high voltage, heavy physical workload |
| Transport | train driver, bus driver, pilot | responsibility for public safety |
| Healthcare | ICU nurse, mortuary worker | stress, exposure to biological factors |
| Construction | roofer, heavy machinery operator, steel structure assembler | work at height, heavy workload |
| Chemical industry | soda production worker, operator of hazardous installations | exposure to toxic and corrosive factors |
| Agriculture and fisheries | sea fisherman, animal slaughter worker | difficult environmental conditions, contact with animals |
Is It Worth Taking Early Retirement in Poland?
The decision to end work early should always be individual.
Advantages of early retirement:
- the possibility of leaving work in the event of deteriorating health,
- financial security for people tired of working in difficult conditions,
- compensation for performing professions that endanger health and life.
Disadvantages of early retirement:
- lower benefit compared to statutory retirement,
- limited possibility of earning extra money (income limits set by the Social Insurance Institution),
- the bridging benefit is temporary – it expires when reaching the general age.
Which Periods Do Not Qualify As Service in Special Conditions?
The following do not count toward the required service period:
- unpaid leave,
- parental leave,
- periods of receiving sickness, maternity, care or rehabilitation benefits,
- part-time work, if it has not been performed continuously under special conditions,
- military service (with exceptions).
Early Retirement in Poland – Summary
Early retirement in Poland is a privilege available to people born after 31 December 1948 who performed work under special conditions or of a special nature. Not every occupation qualifies. The list is closed and results directly from the Act. Remember to verify your legal situation and consult a lawyer before submitting an application.
Do you have doubts whether you are entitled to early retirement? Use the contact form to get professional help in analysing your situation.
FAQ – Questions And Answers About Early Retirement in Poland
1. What is the difference between early retirement in Poland and a bridging pension?
Early retirement in Poland includes a wider range of benefits, and the bridging pension applies only to people working under special conditions after 2008.
2. Who can apply for early retirement in Poland?
Persons born after 31 December 1948 who worked under the conditions specified by the Act and met the age and employment period criteria.
3. How to document work in special conditions?
With an employment certificate and confirmations issued by the employer.
4. Can teachers benefit from early retirement in Poland?
Yes, but in the form of compensatory benefits on the terms set out in the Teacher’s Charter.
5. Do uniformed services have their own pension rules?
Yes, for example, police officers or soldiers can end their service after 15 or 25 years, regardless of age.
6. Does early retirement always mean a lower benefit?
Yes – the benefit is lower because it is based on a shorter employment period and a longer payment period.
7. Do I have to give up my job to receive a bridging pension?
No, but in order for the Social Insurance Institution to start paying the benefit, it is necessary to terminate the employment relationship.
8. Can farmers count on early retirement in Poland?
Yes – Farmers’ Social Security Fund (KRUS) provides for the possibility of a bridging pension after meeting the requirements of age and insurance period.
9. What periods do not qualify as work under special conditions?
Unpaid leave, periods of receiving sickness benefits, parental leave and others listed in the Act.
10. Where can I find a list of professions that qualify for early retirement?
In the annexes to the Bridging Pensions Act, available on the ISAP website.