Ukrainian families have the right to receive cash assistance for adults and children in 2023. Find out in more detail which programs of financial assistance to Ukrainian families are currently available in Poland and how to receive payments

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Ukrainian refugees who found refuge in Poland can count on financial assistance for parents and children. In particular, the approved budget for 2023 provides for such payments. We will tell you what financial aid programs for Ukrainian families are currently available in Poland and how to get the funds.

Karta Dużej Rodziny 

Since January 1, 2019, Poland has introduced a support program for families with at least three children. At the same time, the amount of income does not affect the possibility of receiving assistance.

Holders of such a card can receive services and goods at reduced prices throughout Poland. Supermarket chains such as Biedronka or Lidl, cultural institutions (for example, museums), transport institutions, gas stations and others participate in this program. You can find out about this by the presence of the "Tu honorujemy Kartę Dużej Rodziny" sticker on the walls or glass of buildings.

Read more about how to issue a Great Family Card (Karta Dużej Rodziny) in Poland here.

The Family 500+ program

Family 500+ is a demographic support program in Poland, under which each family is entitled to receive a subsidy of PLN 500 per month for each child. The payment comes regardless of the parents' income.

Not only Polish citizens, but also foreigners living in Poland have the right to such assistance. In particular, refugees from Ukraine.

It is planned that in 2023, assistance will reach about 7 million children. In 2022, Poland transferred more than 213 billion zlotys to parents under this program, and in 2023 this amount will increase by another 40 billion zlotys.

It is also worth noting that the budget will not increase payments under the 500+ program. That is, the amount of PLN 500 per child will not be indexed.

Learn more about how to apply for participation in the 500+ program in our material.

Cash assistance "Dobry Start" for schoolchildren

The "Dobry start" program is a payment in the amount of 300 zlotys, which parents of schoolchildren receive to prepare for the new school year.

The allowance is paid once a year, regardless of family income, to help cover the cost of purchasing school supplies. You can receive such assistance for a child up to 20 years old, and in the case of disabled children - up to 24 years old. Since 2019, the program has also been available for students of police schools and schools for adults.

At the same time, the program does not apply to children attending kindergarten or grade zero (zerowka), as well as to students.

Find out more about applying for "Dobry start assistance at the link.

400 Plus program

400 Plus in Poland is a state program for co-financing parents' expenses for their children's stay in nurseries or special clubs. The allowance is 400 zlotys per month, but not more than the cost of expenses for the specified institutions (excluding food expenses).

What is the amount of assistance?

It should be noted that PLN 400 is the maximum amount of assistance. If the actual costs of the preschool, which do not include food costs, are less than PLN 400, then the payments will be this amount, covering 100% of the costs.

For example, the cost of staying in a nursery is 500 zlotys per month - 400 zlotys will be compensated under the program, and another 100 zlotys will be paid by the parents themselves. If the price is, for example, 350 zlotys, then only 350 will be compensated. No one can claim the remaining 50 zlotys.

The corresponding co-financing is transferred directly to the care facility, which can be used to cover all or part of the costs. The money can also be used for day care.

The allowance can be paid all the time while the child attends the nursery school.

Pay attention! It is not possible to receive 400 Plus assistance during payments under the Family Capital (Rodzinny Kapitał Opiekuńczy) program.

Payments will be interrupted for the period of Family Capital payments (from 12 to 36 months), if this benefit was assigned, and will be resumed after the child turns 3 years old until the end of preschool.

Rodzinny kapitał opiekuńczy (RKO)

Family capital is a new additional benefit, the effect of which began on January 1, 2022 and will continue in 2023. The program was originally called "1000 plus" because the amount of PLN 12,000 for the second and subsequent children aged 12-35 months could be paid in installments over 12 or 24 months, receiving an additional PLN 1,000 or PLN 500 each month.

Who is entitled to help?

Payments can be received by:

• Foreigners who have the status of PMP (permanent residence and long-term EU resident cards issued by Poland), i.e. I have free access to the labor market.

• Foreigners who have a temporary residence permit (residence card), on which there is an instruction "with access to the labor market (dostep do rynku pracy)".

• UKR status holders.