The nursing allowance (zasiłek pielęgnacyjny) and the nursing supplement (dodatek pielęgnacyjny) are two different Polish benefits for a person who needs care. The allowance is paid by the municipality and amounts to PLN 215.84 a month. The supplement is paid by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) together with a pension, and from 1 March 2026 it amounts to PLN 366.68. You cannot receive both at once. The carer's benefit (świadczenie pielęgnacyjne), often confused with them, is entirely different money: PLN 3,386 a month for the carer, not for the person who is ill.
In short
- A pensioner aged over 75 receives the nursing supplement automatically, without an application. The municipal allowance is for people who do not have the supplement.
- The supplement is PLN 150.84 a month higher than the allowance and rises every year with the March indexation. The allowance has not changed since November 2019.
- In a private care home the nursing supplement is still payable. In a care and treatment facility (ZOL), ZUS suspends it.
The comparison in one table
| Benefit | Amount in 2026 | Who pays | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing allowance (zasiłek pielęgnacyjny) | PLN 215.84 | municipality | a person with a severe disability or aged over 75, without the ZUS supplement |
| Nursing supplement (dodatek pielęgnacyjny) | PLN 366.68 | ZUS or KRUS | a pensioner aged over 75 or unable to live independently |
| Carer's benefit (świadczenie pielęgnacyjne) | PLN 3,386 | municipality | the carer of a disabled child up to the age of 18 |
| Support benefit (świadczenie wspierające) | PLN 792-4,353 | ZUS | an adult with 70-100 support-need points |
All four benefits are tax-free and none depends on income. They differ in who receives them, who pays them and whether you have to apply.
The nursing supplement from ZUS
The nursing supplement is part of an old-age or disability pension. It is payable in two situations. The first is age: everyone who receives a pension and has turned 75 gets the supplement automatically, with no application and no health assessment. ZUS adds it to the pension from the month of the 75th birthday.
The second situation concerns younger people whom a ZUS certifying doctor has found to be totally unable to work and to live independently. Here an application is needed, together with a health certificate on form OL-9 issued by the treating doctor. The supplement rises every year along with pensions. In March 2026 the indexation rate was 105.3 per cent, hence the increase from PLN 348.22 to PLN 366.68.
The nursing allowance from the municipality
The nursing allowance is a family benefit, not a pension benefit. It is paid by the municipality, usually through the social welfare centre or the benefits department. It is payable to a disabled child, to a person over 16 with a certificate of severe disability, to a person with a moderate disability if the disability arose before the age of 21, and to everyone who has turned 75.
In practice two groups of seniors receive the allowance. The first is people under 75 with a severe disability who are not entitled to the ZUS supplement. The second is people over 75 who have no pension of their own. You have to apply for the allowance; it is not granted automatically. The application is submitted in the municipality where the person lives, with the disability certificate attached, and after the age of 75 a document confirming age is enough.
Why they cannot be combined
The Family Benefits Act states plainly that the nursing allowance is not payable to a person entitled to the nursing supplement. Both benefits serve the same purpose, namely partly covering the cost of care, so the state pays only one.
It happens that someone receives the allowance from the municipality and ZUS later grants the supplement for the same period. ZUS then reduces its payment by the amount of the allowance and transfers it to the municipality. This is not a penalty, just a settlement, but it is worth reporting the supplement to the municipality yourself to avoid misunderstandings. If you have a choice, the supplement is better, because it is higher and indexed.
The carer's benefit is something else
The similar name confuses even officials. The carer's benefit goes to the carer, not to the person needing care. Since 2024, new applications can be made by carers of people up to the age of 18. Carers of adults who were entitled to this benefit earlier have kept it under the previous rules. For other disabled adults, the legislator introduced the support benefit, which we describe in a separate article: the support benefit for seniors.
What happens to the benefits in a care home
It depends on the type of facility, and the differences are large.
A private care home
The nursing supplement remains payable, because ZUS suspends it only in care and treatment facilities and nursing and care facilities. The municipal nursing allowance generally stays too. The Act excludes it only in institutions that provide full board free of charge, and a privately paid stay is not one of them. It is still worth reporting the change of residence to the municipality.
A social welfare home (DPS)
The nursing supplement is paid, but it counts towards the income on which the fee for the stay is calculated. The resident hands over no more than 70 per cent of income, so most of the supplement goes to the facility. We describe the fee rules in the article who pays for a DPS.
A care and treatment facility (ZOL)
In a ZOL or ZPO the nursing supplement is not payable, unless the patient stays outside the facility for more than two weeks in a month. ZUS resumes payment after the return home.
How much it changes the budget
The nursing supplement covers about 6 per cent of the average price of a private care home, which according to our report is PLN 5,665 a month. That is not much, but over a year it comes to PLN 4,400. To see the full picture, add up all the sources: the pension, the supplement, any municipal support and tax reliefs. Our guide to funding for a care home will help. And if you are looking for a facility within a specific budget, describe your situation in our form and we will send you matched suggestions.
Frequently asked questions
Can you receive the nursing allowance and the nursing supplement at the same time?
No. The nursing allowance is not payable to a person entitled to the nursing supplement. If both are paid for the same period, ZUS deducts the amount of the allowance and returns it to the municipality.
How much is the nursing supplement in 2026?
From 1 March 2026 the nursing supplement is PLN 366.68 a month. Until the end of February 2026 it was PLN 348.22.
Is the nursing supplement payable in a care home?
In a private care home and in a social welfare home, yes. It is not payable in a care and treatment facility or a nursing and care facility if the stay lasts longer than two weeks in a month.
What is the difference between the nursing allowance and the carer's benefit?
The nursing allowance, PLN 215.84, goes to the person who needs care. The carer's benefit, PLN 3,386 in 2026, goes to the carer who looks after them, currently mainly the carer of a child up to the age of 18.
Sources
- Act of 28 November 2003 on Family Benefits, Article 16 (in Polish)
- Act on Pensions from the Social Insurance Fund, Article 75 (in Polish)
- ZUS, minimum benefit and supplement amounts from 1 March 2026 (in Polish)
