PPK and Changing Jobs - What Happens to Your Savings?

PPK and Changing Jobs — What Happens to Your Savings?

Changing jobs is one of the most common moments when people worry about their PPK. Do you lose the money? Do you need to transfer anything? Does the new employer see your old savings? Here are all the answers.

The Most Important Fact: The Money Is Yours

Your PPK account belongs to you, not your employer. Changing jobs does not mean losing your funds. Money accumulated in your PPK account with the previous employer stays in that account — whether you transfer it or not.

Step by Step: What Happens

1. You Leave Your Job

When your employment contract ends, your employer stops making PPK contributions. Your account at the current financial institution remains active — funds continue to be invested in the target-date fund.

2. You Start a New Job

Your new employer must enroll you in PPK (if you meet the criteria — automatic enrollment for ages 18–55; ages 55–70 on request). New contributions go to a new PPK account managed by the institution your new employer has chosen.

3. You Decide About the Old Account

You have two options:

Option A: Transfer (wypłata transferowa) Move funds from your old account to the new one. Within 7 days of signing your PPK agreement, the new employer should inform you about the transfer option.

If you don't declare your existing PPK accounts within 7 days, the new employer won't initiate a transfer automatically.

Option B: Leave it where it is Your old PPK account keeps running. Funds remain invested, but no new contributions flow in. You can have multiple PPK accounts simultaneously.

How the Transfer Works

If you opt for transfer:

1. You submit a declaration of existing PPK accounts to your new employer
2. The new employer (via their financial institution) initiates the transfer
3. Funds move tax-free and without losing any contributions
4. The process typically takes a few weeks

The transfer is free and involves zero losses. It's simply moving money from one PPK account to another.

Transfer vs. Leave — What's Better?

Practical advice: If you've changed jobs several times and have 3–4 PPK accounts, consolidation makes sense. It's easier to track your savings and monitor performance.

Gaps Between Jobs

If there's a gap between positions (unemployment, sabbatical, career change):

• Your PPK account stays active
• Funds continue working in the fund
• You don't lose accumulated contributions
• Simply no new contributions arrive

Important: the state's annual 240 PLN top-up requires minimum contributions in a given year. If your total PPK contributions in a calendar year fall below ~2,800 PLN (25% of minimum wage × 6 in 2026), you won't receive the annual top-up for that year.

PPK and Civil Law Contracts (Umowa Zlecenie)

PPK applies to civil law contracts too. If you switch from employment to a zlecenie contract (or vice versa), the rules are analogous — the contracting party must also run PPK.

PPK and Self-Employment (B2B)

If you switch to B2B, the situation changes — sole proprietors are not covered by PPK. Your existing PPK accounts remain active, but no new contributions come in.

Consider IKE or IKZE as alternatives for systematic retirement saving on B2B.

Managing Multiple PPK Accounts

If you have PPK accounts across different institutions, tracking them in one place is essential. Freenance lets you aggregate all your savings and investment accounts — including multiple PPK accounts. You see the total amount and its impact on your Financial Freedom Runway without logging into three different platforms.

Job Change and Re-Enrollment

If you opted out of PPK at your previous employer, your opt-out does not transfer to the new employer. You'll be automatically enrolled again. If you still don't want to participate, you must submit a new opt-out declaration.

Also remember: every 4 years, automatic re-enrollment happens — even if you previously opted out. Next auto-enrollment: April 1, 2027.

Job Change Checklist

1. ✅ Note your old PPK account details (institution, account number)
2. ✅ Decide: transfer or leave
3. ✅ Inform your new employer about existing PPK accounts (within 7 days)
4. ✅ Verify your new employer is making contributions
5. ✅ Check which fund your new contributions go to
6. ✅ Update your financial tracking tool

Summary

Changing jobs is not a threat to your PPK savings. The money is yours and doesn't disappear. The biggest risk is forgetting about old accounts and losing track of multiple holdings. Consolidate accounts, monitor performance, and don't reflexively opt out of PPK every time you change employers.