The following case studies highlight Polish pension recipients who applied for and obtained financial assistance from the Office of Veterans and Victims of Oppression (known as “UdSKiOR”) in Poland. The facts of the case studies are real, but the beneficiaries’ names and biographical details has been redacted for privacy purposes. We offer these case studies in order to help guide other Polish pension beneficiaries and their families and social workers in the process of applying for similar financial assistance.

Ms.  T.

Ms. T. is an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor who receives the Polish pension. She lost her husband in 2023, and lives alone in a house in Pennsylvania, USA. She suffers from various medical ailments and takes medication for them. She has some but limited social support. Ms. T.’s income consists of US Social Security, the Polish pension, and a German pension for her Holocaust experiences. Her expenses consist of utilities, health insurance, homeowner’s insurance, telephone and Internet, food, and miscellaneous living expenses.

Ms. T. applied for financial assistance on April 25, 2024. In evaluating the case, UdSKiOR noted that Ms. T.’s monthly income was 14,131.63 złoty, or approximately $3,250 USD and her monthly expenses totaled approximately $2,100 USD. This was above the maximum amount of monthly income allowed for financial assistance in 2024 of 5,164.78 złoty, or approximately $1,180 USD. However, UdSKiOR noted that despite the fact that Ms. T.’s income was above the limits for financial assistance, it still deemed her situation deserving of financial support to support her well-being. On July 22, 2024, UdSKiOR granted Ms. T. 2671.44 złoty, which on that date amounted to $668.51 USD.

Mr. G.

Mr. G. lives alone in a condominium in Florida. His wife passed away in 2023. During the war his mother was pregnant with him when she was deported from Poland to Russia, and he was born in a town in Siberia. He subsists only on income from Social Security and the Polish pension.

Mr. G. applied for the financial assistance from UdSKiOR twice in 2025, once in the spring and another time in the summer. His total monthly income was determined to be 5,726.82 zloty, or $1,422.35 USD. This exceeded the 2025 eligibility income limit for a single person living alone of 5,448.84 zloty. However, UdSKiOR took into account his poor health condition which was confirmed by a letter from his primary care physician and concomitant expenses for doctor visits and medication and awarded him 2,500 zloty, which on April 16, 2025 was equivalent to $657.39 USD.

Mr. G. applied again on September 15, 2025 for financial assistance since a Polish pension beneficiary can apply twice per calendar year.  This time UdSKiOR approved him on October 23, 2025 for the maximum allowed for a single person living alone in the amount of 2,818.37, which was equivalent to $764.93 USD. 

Ms. Z.

Ms. Z., residing in New York, was 100 years old when she applied for financial assistance on July 11, 2025 after her daughter passed away and she wished for help to defray the cost of funeral expenses. Ms. Z. suffered from congestive heart failure and lived in an apartment by herself. Although Ms. Z.’s income was $2,878 USD per month, her expenses were approximately $3,600 USD per month. 

UdSKiOR acknowledged Ms. Z.’s hardship but noted that her income was far above the threshold of eligibility. UdSKiOR did not subtract her expenses from her income but took them, as well as her recent loss, into account in making their determination. On August 13, 2025, UdSKiOR granted Ms. Z. a one-time payment of $274 USD. 

Updated April 21, 2026