Disabled input bit positions of an input bit vector that is to be encoded are determined based on non-contiguous subsets of consecutive coded bit positions that are to be punctured from a codeword of a polar code. The input bit vector is encoded according to the polar code to generate a codeword, by applying information bits to input bit positions of the input bit vector other than the disabled input bit positions. The non-contiguous subsets of consecutive coded bit positions are punctured from the codeword to generate a punctured codeword, and the punctured codeword is transmitted. In some embodiments, the non-contiguous subsets include a first subset that includes a first coded bit position and a second subset that includes a last coded bit position. The polar code could be a chained polar code, for example.