Higher pension for those employed before 1999. Under certain conditions

People who worked before 1999 have a chance for a higher pension if they provide the Social Insurance Institution with appropriate documents confirming employment and the amount of remuneration from that period.

Before the introduction of individual insured accounts in 1999, ZUS did not collect detailed data on contributions, so it is important to document before that date. This allows for the benefit to be recalculated and potentially increased.

According to the official ZUS website (in the "Benefits" tab), in order to recalculate the amount of retirement benefits, you must attach documents confirming contributory and non-contributory periods from before 1999. The most important ones include:

• employment certificates,
• certificates of employment and salary,
• employment contracts,
• insurance cards containing employment and salary entries,
• entries in old "booklet" identity cards,
• statements of witnesses, preferably former colleagues.

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In the absence of documents, ZUS may accept so-called fragmentary evidence or witness statements - especially if the workplace has been liquidated and its documentation is unavailable. The lack of full documentation does not eliminate the chances of a higher pension. After receiving, among other things, statements, the institution may accept the minimum wage applicable in a given period (in the absence of other data).

After 26 years, it is hard to expect that every retiree will have all the necessary documents. However, most of them can be obtained in a fairly simple way - it is worth starting with:

• contact with a former employer or his legal successor,
• contacting state or commercial archives that store the documentation of liquidated establishments,
• using the assistance of provincial offices or ministries – if the employment took place in a state administration unit.

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After collecting the appropriate documents, you should submit an application for recalculation of the benefit. This can be done at a ZUS office or via the PUE ZUS platform . The application should be accompanied by original documents or copies certified by a notary public.