Polish President Andrzej Duda has signed into law an act which ensures a bonus flat-rate pension payment for all pensioners in Poland
The pensioners and disability benefit claimants will all receive a flat rate equivalent of €275 once a year as a bonus payment, with the bonus payment set to be paid out in April.
The president signed the act in Żyrardów, near Warsaw, during a ceremony with seniors and pensioners.
By signing the law, Duda helped the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) deliver on its election promises and also deliver on his priority of raising living standards of Poles.
This bonus payment will not be means-tested and will be universal for all those in receipt of state pensions and disability benefits.
Duda underlined that payments of this kind are possible because of the improving economic situation of Poland and the fact that the government has tightened up the tax system, which has increased tax receipts.
He also said to the audience that the government has already drafted legislation for another flat-rate pension bonus payment and that this will soon be put before parliament. Duda assured voters that he would sign that act too.
The Law and Justice (PiS) government has increased social spending markedly since coming into office. It has introduced universal child benefit worth €120 per month for each child. PiS has also increased disability benefits.
The bonus for pensioners is the conservative government’s attempt to help the elderly, a group of voters with a high propensity for actually turning out on polling day.
