
Parental Support and Family Benefits in Poland
🍼 Becikowe – One-Time Childbirth Allowance
- Amount: PLN 1,000 (one-time payment)
- Conditions:
- Household income per person must not exceed PLN 1,922
- The mother must have received medical care from at least the 10th week of pregnancy
- The application must be submitted within 12 months of the child’s birth
- Where to apply: At your local Municipal Office (Urząd Gminy) or Social Welfare Centre (Ośrodek Pomocy Społecznej)
💸 Rodzina 800+ – Monthly Benefit per Child
- Amount: PLN 800 per child, per month, until the age of 18
- Eligibility:
- As of 1 January 2024, all children are eligible, regardless of household income
- Foreign nationals with legal residence and access to the Polish labour market can also apply
- How to apply:
- Via the Emp@tia portal, ePUAP, or online banking
- Payments are made directly to the applicant’s bank account
👨👩👧 Parental Benefit (Świadczenie Rodzicielskie)
- Amount: PLN 1,000 per month for:
- 52 weeks (1 child)
- 65 weeks (2 children)
- Longer periods for multiple births
- Who is it for?
- Parents not entitled to maternity or paternity leave/pay (e.g., students, unemployed, self-employed without maternity insurance)
- Where to apply: At the local Social Welfare Centre
🧒 Family Benefit (Zasiłek Rodzinny)
- Amount:
- PLN 95 per child (0–5 years)
- PLN 124 (6–18 years)
- PLN 135 (19–24 years in education)
- Eligibility:
- Household income per person must not exceed PLN 674 (or PLN 764 if the child has a disability)
- Where to apply: At the local Social Welfare Centre
🎒 Dobry Start – Back-to-School Allowance
- Amount: PLN 300 (one-time annual payment)
- Who qualifies?
- All children and young people aged 7–20 (or up to 24 if disabled) enrolled in school
- How to apply: Through Emp@tia, ePUAP, or online banking
👨👩👧👦 Large Family Card (Karta Dużej Rodziny)
- Benefits:
- Discounts on public transport, cultural institutions, shops, and more
- Eligibility: Families with three or more children
- How to apply: Via the Emp@tia portal or your local Social Welfare Centre
For more details and to access official forms, visit:
- Ministry of Family and Social Policy: gov.pl/web/rodzina
- Emp@tia Portal: empatia.mpips.gov.pl
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Carlos Vasconcelos
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