The Polish People’s Party (PSL) will submit a bill to parliament, drafted by the Children’s Rights Ombudsman, to prevent children from being billed for adult social welfare costs.
Bill to End Child Liability for Adult Social Care Costs
The PSL parliamentary club announced on Thursday that it will submit a bill to the Sejm, prepared by Children’s Rights Ombudsman Monika Horna-Cieślak, amending the social assistance act. The amendment would prevent children from being required to pay for an adult’s stay in a social care home (DPS).
Controversial Article 61 Targeted
The proposed changes focus on Article 61 of the law, which currently prioritizes the resident of the care home, their spouse, and then descendants before ancestors, for payment of care costs.
Children Should Focus on Education, Not Debt
Horna-Cieślak explained the current situation is absurd, stating that children should be focused on education and personal development, not receiving payment demands for the care of adults they may not even know.
She cited the case of 8-year-old Wiktoria, who receives monthly bills for nearly 2,000 złoty to cover the cost of her grandfather’s care, despite never having met him.
Numerous Cases Reported to Ombudsman
The Ombudsman’s office is aware of at least a dozen similar cases. Currently, whether a minor is required to pay depends on the practices of individual social care homes.
Law Should Be Clear: No Child Debt
Horna-Cieślak emphasized the need for a clear legal framework stating that no child should be obligated to pay for an adult’s stay in a DPS, arguing that such a requirement is unfair and treats children as adults.
PSL Promises a Debt-Free Childhood
PSL MP Jolanta Zięba-Gzik stated that every child in Poland deserves a safe childhood, free from debt, and that the proposed amendment involves changing only one sentence in the social assistance act.
Outdated Regulations Require Reform
Agnieszka Kłopotek, another PSL MP, described the existing regulations as “absurd” and called for a comprehensive reform of the 20-year-old social assistance act, specifically targeting Article 61 for swift revision.
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