Did Andrzej Duda really raise the retirement age? We check what is changing in Poland’s pension system and whether everyone should be worried.
New law: Changes for court bailiffs
In July 2025, President Andrzej Duda signed a law raising the retirement age. But no – it does not concern all Poles, as the headlines might suggest. The change covers court bailiffs (komornicy sądowi) and bailiff assessors (asesorzy komorniczy). From now on they will be able to work until the age of 70, instead of the previous 65.
Why bailiffs specifically?
The Ministry of Justice argued that the earlier regulations introduced „discriminatory” rules for this group. Bailiffs were prevented from working after turning 65, while notaries may work up to the age of 70, and attorneys and legal advisers have no upper age limit. The amendment therefore equalises the rules for legal professions.
What else is changing?
- The maximum period of bailiff assessorship is being abolished (previously 6 years).
- A bailiff can now decide whether to retire at 65 or continue working until 70, and even return to the profession after a temporary departure.
- Other workers (outside this group) retire under unchanged rules: women at 60, men at 65.
Comparison of retirement age for selected legal professions
Do ordinary Poles have anything to fear?
No. The retirement age for most citizens has not changed and remains 60 for women and 65 for men. President Andrzej Duda’s 2025 decision does not cover the whole country, but only a narrow professional group, which is often overlooked in media oversimplifications.
