Factsheet for measure
PL-2022-11/2217
–
Updated
– measures in Poland
Access to social benefits for Ukrainian refugees: Support for families and individuals
Dostęp do świadczeń socjalnych dla ukraińskich uchodźców
Background information
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. As a result of Russian aggression, many Ukrainian refugees fled to Poland.
On 12 March 2022, the special act regarding Ukrainian refugees (Dz.U. 2022 poz. 583) entered into force, with effect from 24 February 2022. Its aim is to provide assistance to Ukrainians escaping the territory of Ukraine due to armed conflict.
Content of measure
All Ukrainian citizens that entered Poland on or after 24 February 2022 and whose stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland is legalised are entitled to many social benefits. Those include:
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family benefits (family allowance, care benefits and one-time childbirth allowance),
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parental benefit equal to the monthly amount of PLN 500 (approx. €110) per child,
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benefits "for a good start" equal to the amount of a one-time payment of PLN 300 (approx. €65) for each Ukrainian refugee;
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family care capital, equal to the amount of up to PLN 12,000 (approx. €2,610) for the second and each subsequent child;
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co-financing of the fee for the child's stay in a kindergarten, children's club or day-care provider equal to the amount of up to PLN 400 per month (approx. €85).
Some of the above-mentioned beneficiaries will be entitled, provided that the citizen of Ukraine lives with children on the territory of Poland. The total budget estimate is PLN 2,280,000,000 (approx. €10,488,000,000).
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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27 January 2023
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According to the amendment of the Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of Ukraine, the period of stay of Ukrainian citizens (and certain members of their families) considered legal has been extended until 4 March 2024.
The period of legal residence has been extended until 31 August 2024 for 3 categories of persons:
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Persons who, on 4 March 2024, will receive preschool education, will receive compulsory education, or will receive compulsory education, and if these persons are minors - also their parents or guardians;
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Persons who, on 4 March 2024, will receive education in a kindergarten or school operating in the Ukrainian education system using methods and techniques of distance education, and, if such persons are minors, also their parents or guardians;
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Persons who have commenced education at a secondary vocational school, post-secondary school or adult school no later than in the school year 2022/2023, and if such persons are minors - also their parents or guardians.
The legal period of residence has been extended to 30 September 2024 for persons who take the matriculation examination on a repeat date and, if these persons are minors, also for their parents and guardians.
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Use of measure
As of February 2023, refugees from Ukraine are still entitled to receive all the benefits described in the case. However, full data on the number of their beneficiaries is not available.
According to the Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych (Social Insurance Institution, ZUS), 440,000 refugees from Ukraine were entitled to parental benefit for the period May 2022 to May 2023. Meanwhile, 18,000 people were granted family care capital for the same period. However, in October 2022, ZUS reported that around 80,000 Ukrainians had already lost their entitlement to the above two benefits because they had left Poland for more than 30 days.
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
Company / Companies
Local / regional government
Public support service providers
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Local funds
National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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Unknown
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Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
Unknown.
Views and reactions
Unknown.
Sources
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07 March 2022: Rządowy projekt ustawy o pomocy obywatelom Ukrainy w związku z konfliktem zbrojnym na terytorium tego państwa
(orka.sejm.gov.pl)
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12 March 2022: Ustawa z dnia 12 marca 2022 r. o pomocy obywatelom Ukrainy w związku z konfliktem zbrojnym na terytorium tego państwa
(isap.sejm.gov.pl)
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23 October 2022: Ukrainians massively lose the right to 500 plus. ZUS receives notifications about their departures
(www.money.pl)
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27 January 2023: Act of 13 January 2023 on amending the Act on assistance to citizens of Ukraine in connection with the armed conflict on the territory of that state and certain other laws
(dziennikustaw.gov.pl)
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27 January 2023: The amended Act of 12 March 2022 on assistance to citizens of Ukraine in connection with the armed conflict on the territory of that State
(isap.sejm.gov.pl)
