The retirement age for every citizen of a given country is a very important thing. Most of us live until retirement with the hope of rest. Worse, sometimes the amount of the pension does not ensure rest and you have to keep working.

Poland compared to other European countries

In Poland, a new, lowered retirement age has been in force since October 2017. Women can retire at the age of 60, and men at the age of 65. In many other countries, such as the Netherlands, Romania, Cyprus or Denmark, this age is the same. Unfortunately the UK and Ireland allow people to retire at a later date, and the English government is preparing to raise this age to 68. The changes were to be introduced only in 2044-46, but the government is accelerating this decision and it is estimated that it will be implemented in 2037 and the British will be forced to work a year longer.

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Number of pensioners in Poland

After lowering the retirement age in Poland, the number of pensioners increased. Data from 2017, published by Business Insider, say that before the change in the state, we counted 7,3 million people in retirement, and after the change, 8 million.

The retirement age changed the amount of the pension

Many people are happy that after changing the retirement age they will be able to take a break from work "soon". Often, however, the amount pension does not allow this and the person the recipient of benefits is forced to go to work because the amount is insufficient to survive. In the case of women, the average pension rate before the change in the retirement age was PLN 3404, and in the case of men, PLN 3609. The change resulted in a decrease in the rate and now the average amount a woman receives after retirement is PLN 1764 and a man - PLN 3009.

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Pensioners in politics

The current term of office of MPs elected by the Polish state lasts until 2020. In 2017, retirees accounted for 15,4% of the entire composition of the Sejm. It is converted into 38 men and 33 women. At the end of the term of office, this number will increase because then 51 women out of 123 MPs will be of retirement age and 69 men out of 329 will also reach retirement age. The question is whether they will go on a well-deserved rest, or will they continue to fight for a seat in the Sejm.