EN
Structural pensions (early retirement from farming schemes) as the measures of structural policy has been existing in 10 "old" EU countries. In Poland, according to Polish rules, the structural pensions were introduced in 2002. After accession the rules and requirements for structural pensions has been changed. At present they are much easier to fulfill. A farm of lha is enough (plus age and other requirements) to apply for the structural pensions. Pensions are much higher (thanks to financial contribution from CAP) and can amount from 210% to 440% of the lowest retirement pension in Poland. Present requirements caused much bigger interest of farmers. There are about 20 thousand of applications for the structural pensions at the Agency of Agriculture Restructurisation and Modernisation which is responsible for verification of applications and will be the payer of the structural pensions.