Frequently asked questions about 500+ child benefits in Poland

If you work in Poland and your children live with you here, you may be entitled to obtain monthly benefits from a government program Rodzina 500+ (Family 500 PLUS).

**The Program Rodzina 500+ in 2023**

Just like last year, you need to reapply. The nearest period of the 500+ program starts on June 1, 2023 and lasts until May 31, 2024. To receive your benefit during this period, you must apply (starting from February 1).

If the application for the new period is submitted from February 1 to June 30, 2023, you will receive the benefit from the beginning of the benefit period (from June 1, 2023) to May 31, 2024.

If the application is submitted during the period after June 30, 2023, the benefit will be granted from the month of submitting the application until the end of the benefit period.

Payment of the benefit takes place only in non-cash form, to the bank account indicated by the applicant.

More about the 500 plus program in Polish on the official government website.

**What is the Rodzina 500+ program and how does it work?**

A government program Rodzina 500+ or often called just the 500 PLUS, was created in 2016 and since then supports many families’ budgets in Poland. The benefit of PLN 500 (tax-free) is paid monthly for every child under 18 years old, regardless of family income. The foreigners who work in Poland can join this program under some conditions.

What are the conditions I have to meet to join the program?

You are entitled to participate in the program if at least one of the following statements refers to you:

You are a citizen of the European Union or the European Free Trade Association – EFTA (four countries belong to EFTA: Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland).
You are a citizen of one of the countries that have signed a bilateral social security agreement with Poland (including the USA, Canada, Moldova, South Korea or Ukraine).
You obtained a temporary residence work permit in a profession requiring high qualifications and live in Poland together with family members.
You have a residence card with the annotation “access to the labour market” and you live in Poland with family members (note – the possibility of obtaining “500 Plus” based on the annotation “access to the labour market” does not apply to people with a work permit in EU countries on a period not exceeding 6 months, non-EU and EFTA third-country nationals studying or performing seasonal work and third-country nationals working on the basis of a visa).
You stay in Poland as part of the intra-corporate transfer and live together with family members (note: the possibility of obtaining “500 Plus” on this basis does not apply to people who have the right to stay in Poland for a period not exceeding 9 months).
You stay in Poland to conduct scientific research (note: the possibility of obtaining “500 Plus” on this basis does not apply to people who have the right to stay in Poland for a period not exceeding 6 months).

What documents should I prepare?

To receive a child benefit, you must attach to the electronically submitted application:

a document confirming the nature of the foreigner’s stay in Poland, eg a residence card (karta pobytu) with the annotation “access to the labor market” (dostęp do rynku pracy), a permanent residence card / karta stałego pobytu (this does not apply to EU / EFTA citizens).

Where to apply?

The Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) https://www.zus.pl/portal/logowanie.npi
The ministerial Service and Information Platform “Emp@tia” https://empatia.mpips.gov.pl/
Your bank (only selected banks offer this possibility).

I expect a baby – when shall I apply?

If the parent of a newborn child submits an application within 3 months from the date of birth of the child, he/she will receive the benefit with compensation from the date of birth of the child.

In the case of children born by May 31, 2023, parents should remember to submit two applications for a childcare benefit – both for the 2022/2023 benefit period, which will end on May 31, 2023, and for the next new period 2023/2024, which will start June 1, 2023.

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