- In 2026 the funeral allowance is PLN 7,000 (until 31 December 2025 it was PLN 4,000).
- The amount is determined by the date of death, not the date the application is submitted.
- It is due to the person who covered the funeral costs - most often to a family member.
- The application is submitted on form ZUS Z-12 within the deadline 12 months from the date of death.
- ZUS pays out the benefit up to 14 days from a complete application.
- The allowance can be assign it to the funeral home - then the family does not pay up front.
From 1 January 2026 the ZUS funeral allowance amounts to PLN 7,000 - this is the first increase since 2011 and almost twice the previous 4,000 PLN. For many families it means that the funeral can be arranged without drawing on your own savings: we settle the benefit directly with ZUS, so you do not pay in advance. Below we explain calmly and step by step who is entitled to the allowance, how to file the application and how the cashless settlement works.
Funeral covered by the ZUS allowance - with no costs paid upfront
Arranging a funeral after the loss of a loved one involves not only difficult emotions but also formalities and costs. For those entitled to the ZUS funeral allowance, the application for payment should formally be submitted by the person arranging the funeral.
In response to families' expectations, we finance the funeral against the ZUS funeral allowance you are entitled to - we offer full organisation of the ceremony without the need to use your own funds to cover the cost of the funeral.
Once we have the appropriate authorisation and the death certificate, we settle the amount directly against the funeral allowance due, taking on all the formalities connected with arranging the ceremony and with the payment from ZUS. This means you can focus on saying goodbye to your loved one, leaving the organisational and official matters to our specialists.
We provide full support at every stage - from reporting the death, through preparing the documentation, to arranging the funeral ceremony in line with the wishes of the family and the deceased.
How much is the funeral allowance in 2026 and from when?
From 1 January 2026 the ZUS funeral allowance amounts to PLN 7,000. This is a one-off benefit of a fixed amount - it no longer depends on the average wage or on the region of the country. The key rule: the amount depends on the date of death, not on the date the application is filed:
- if the death occurred on or before 31 December 2025 - the previous amount applies PLN 4,000, even if you submit the application in 2026;
- if the death occurred on 1 January 2026 or later - you are entitled to the full PLN 7,000.
The regulations also provide for annual indexation, so that in the following years the benefit keeps pace with inflation. You will find the latest official information at zus.pl.
Who is entitled to the funeral allowance?
The allowance is due to to the person who covered the funeral costs. Full amount of 7,000 PLN (regardless of what the funeral actually cost) is granted when the costs were covered by family member: spouse, parents, stepfather or stepmother, children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren. If the costs were covered by a person outside the family or institution (employer, municipality, care home, parish) - the allowance is paid up to the amount of documented expenses, no more than PLN 7,000. If several people covered the costs, the benefit is divided proportionally.
How to apply for the funeral allowance?
The application is submitted on form ZUS Z-12 - at a ZUS office, by post or via the Electronic Services Platform (PUE/eZUS). Importantly for grieving families - the funeral home can prepare the formalities on your behalf.
Deadline - 12 months
The application must be submitted within 12 months of the date of death. After this deadline the right to the allowance generally expires.
Payment - within 14 days
ZUS has to pay out within up to 14 days from the day of submission complete of the application - so it is worth attaching all the documents right away.
What documents are needed?
- a completed the Z-12 application,
- a copy of the death certificate,
- receipts / invoices confirming the costs (in the case of an assignment we issue them),
- documents confirming kinship with the deceased,
- a document confirming the insurance title of the deceased, if ZUS asks for it.
You will find the binding and always up-to-date list in the form and instructions at zus.pl - we help you gather everything step by step.
Cashless - a funeral without paying up front (assignment of the allowance)
This is the solution that matters most to many families. Instead of first paying for the funeral out of your own pocket and waiting for the refund from ZUS, you can assign the allowance directly to the funeral home. How it works with us:
- You sign with us an authorisation (assignment) to collect the allowance.
- We submit the Z-12 application together with the invoice and the documents.
- ZUS pays the PLN 7,000 directly to us, when settling the funeral costs.
- you do not have to lay out this money up front - the amount of the allowance reduces the bill.
If the funeral costs fit within the allowance, the actual additional payment is 0 PLN. If they are higher, you settle only the difference.
How much will you actually pay extra? Calculator
The simplest way to estimate your outlay is to subtract the allowance from the cost of the funeral: funeral cost − PLN 7,000 = actual amount to pay. Enter the estimated cost and we will calculate the balance due:
The figures are for guidance only and do not constitute an offer. The actual cost depends on the form of burial, the cemetery and the ceremony arrangements - we will calculate an exact quotation in the calculator or by phone.