The Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York, the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), and the Polish & Slavic Center invite you to a free webinar dedicated to the Polish-American social security agreement. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM Eastern Time. ZUS experts will explain how Poles living in the United States can apply for a pension from Poland — even if they only worked there for a few years.
What the webinar will be about
The topic of the meeting is the principles of the Polish-American social security agreement — an agreement that has regulated the pension rights of Poles working on both sides of the Atlantic since 2009. The agreement allows for combining insurance periods in Poland and the USA, meaning that individuals who have worked in both countries can receive two separate pensions: one from ZUS for years worked in Poland and another from the Social Security Administration for years worked in America. For many Poles in the USA who left Poland in the eighties or nineties, this is a real chance for an additional benefit whose existence they may not even be aware of.
The webinar is a particularly good opportunity to ask questions to ZUS experts live — something that normally requires either a flight to Warsaw or many hours of waiting for a phone connection with the Polish institution.
Who should sign up
The webinar is aimed at Poles living in the United States — especially those who have ever worked in Poland and are wondering if they are entitled to a Polish pension. This applies to both people approaching retirement age (60 for women, 65 for men according to Polish regulations) and younger individuals who want to check the status of their contributions and initial capital in ZUS before it’s time for retirement decisions.
Participation in the meeting is free. To join, simply scan the QR code on the event poster or use the link provided by the organizers.
What to know before the meeting
The Polish-American social security agreement was signed on April 2, 2008, and came into force on March 1, 2009. Its most important principles include combining insurance periods — if the period of employment in Poland is too short to grant a pension, ZUS can add years of work in the USA (and vice versa). The agreement also guarantees equal treatment: Poles in the USA have the same rights to Polish benefits as people living in Poland. Applications can be submitted in both Polish and English — no application can be rejected due to language.
A key change that came into effect at the beginning of 2025 is the abolition of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) — a regulation that for decades reduced American Social Security benefits for individuals receiving a pension from a foreign system, including ZUS. The elimination of WEP means that a Polish pension no longer reduces an American one. The Social Security Administration automatically recalculates benefits retroactively, up to January 2024. For thousands of Polish-American retirees, this is a real, measurable change for the better.
Persons born after December 31, 1948, can receive a pension from ZUS upon reaching retirement age, provided they have paid contributions for at least one day. An important element is the so-called initial capital — the value of contributions accumulated before 1999. If you worked in Poland before moving to America, you probably have the right to have it established (form EKP). This can significantly affect the amount of your future pension.
Applications for a Polish pension or disability pension for people living in the USA can be submitted through local Social Security Administration offices in America or directly to ZUS Branch I in Warsaw (Department for the Implementation of International Agreements, ul. Senatorska 6/8, 00-917 Warsaw).
Remember
What: Free webinar — principles of the Polish-American social security agreement
When: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 10:30 AM–11:30 AM ET
Where: Online — join via QR code on the poster or link from organizers
For whom: Poles living in the USA who have ever worked in Poland
Organizers: Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York, Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, ZUS, Polish & Slavic Center
Cost: Free
Editorial Team, Głos Polonii w USA (Voice of Polonia in the USA)
More about ZUS pensions for Poles in the USA: ZUS Guide for Poles living in the USA (PDF) | Contact ZUS Branch I in Warsaw: tel. +48 22 569-36-04
Read more at poland.us — law, finance, and daily life of the Polish diaspora in America. Looking for a Polish accountant or tax advisor in the USA? PolishPages.com.
