ZUS: 257k pension applications filed in September

As many as 257.7k pension applications have been filed in September to the Social Security fund (ZUS), its spokesman Wojciech Andrusiewicz said. Out of that number, 196.7k were motions filed for the first time. September was the first month when claims under the new law, which lowers the retirement age, could be filed. ZUS estimates that by the end of the year, up to 331k will take advantage of the lower retirement age. According to Andrusiewicz, despite the heavier traffic in ZUS branches, the fund was prepared for the heavier workload, and the situation was under control. Back in December last year, Poland lowered the retirement age to 60 for women and 65 for men, from the previous 67 for both sexes. The new law came into force on October 1.