Funeral allowance higher than this year. Further changes are planned

In January, the funeral allowance increased from 4,000 to 7,000 PLN, with families able to apply for additional social assistance in difficult situations. The payment processing time was reduced from 30 to 14 days, with an average wait of about 9 days reported by ZUS. Funeral homes can now receive funds directly, alleviating the financial burden on families. A new electronic system for funeral homes is expected to launch in 2027 to streamline processes. Experts highlighted ongoing burial costs and called for updates to outdated regulations from 1959 regarding graves and burials.