“Already more than 2.5 million children have been enrolled by parents and guardians in the government’s Family 500+ programme for the new benefit period with 1.6 million submitted applications. Applications are being processed on an ongoing basis. It is a priority for the government that support reaches families as soon as possible”, said Minister for Family and Social Policy Marlena Maląg. 

500+ is available for every child until they reach the age of 18, regardless of their income. Applications can only be submitted electronically, choosing one of the channels: the Emp@tia portal of the Ministry of Family and Social Policy, e-banking, PUE ZUS and through the mZUS mobile application.

Citizens of the European Union, as well as other foreigners residing in Poland, are entitled to the child-rearing benefit, provided they have legal residence in Poland with access to the Polish labour market.  The 500+ benefit is available to citizens of Ukraine who came from Ukraine to Poland after 23 February 2022 in connection with the warfare and obtained legal residence in Poland on the basis of the Act on Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of Ukraine. 

A person who submits a correctly completed application by 30 April will be paid a benefit by 30 June by ZUS. If he or she submits the application in May – ZUS will pay the benefit by 31 July, together with the benefit amount compensation from June. If the application is submitted in June – ZUS will pay the benefit until 31 August together with the benefit amount compensation from June, and if the application is submitted in July – ZUS will pay the benefit until 30 September together with the benefit amount compensation from July. If the application is submitted in August – ZUS will pay the benefit until 31 October together with compensation of the benefit amount from August.

The Family 500+ programme benefits 7 million children and young people. So far, more than PLN 220 billion have been paid out to Polish families.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński