The Polish government is amending the “Clean Air” program, granting officials access to databases to verify applicant income and household size, aiming to reduce fraud.
Changes to the “Clean Air” Program
The government is preparing changes to the “Clean Air” program that will significantly impact how subsidy applications are verified. The new regulations will expand the powers of officials and allow them access to key databases, aiming to reduce abuse and improve the accuracy of aid distribution.
Program’s Role and Existing Issues
The “Clean Air” program is a key pillar in Poland’s fight against smog, offering financial support for replacing heating sources and modernizing single-family buildings. However, as the number of applications has increased, problems have emerged with accurately assessing the financial situation of beneficiaries.
Legislative Changes Proposed
The Ministry of Climate and Environment has proposed legislative changes to streamline the verification process. The amendment has been added to the government’s legislative work plan and will allow officials access to a wider range of data necessary for evaluating applications.
Focus on Per Capita Income
A key element of the changes is the need to more accurately determine household income per person. This indicator determines the level of funding – the lower the income, the higher the support.
Access to PESEL and Waste Data
The new regulations will allow officials to access the PESEL registry and local databases maintained by municipalities. Access to information regarding municipal waste management fees is particularly important.
Verifying Residency and Household Size
This will make it possible to verify the actual number of people living at a given address. This data is important because the number of household members directly affects the calculation of income per person.
Cross-Referencing Data
In practice, this means that officials will be able to compare information provided in the application with data collected in other administrative systems. This is intended to limit cases of underreporting the number of household members or concealing income.
Environmental Interviews for Verification
The project also provides for the possibility of conducting environmental interviews in situations that raise doubts. These actions will be used in exceptional cases, when the data submitted by the applicant is inconsistent or difficult to verify based on available registers.
Local Institutions to Conduct Interviews
Interviews will be conducted by representatives of local institutions, in line with existing practice of cooperation with social assistance centers. These units are often responsible for issuing income certificates and have experience in assessing the financial situation of residents.
Limitations of the Current System
Current regulations do not provide full access to all necessary databases. Social assistance centers, despite their experience and competence, do not have the legal basis to use many registers that could help in a more accurate assessment of applicants’ situations.
Need for a Comprehensive Control System
As a result, the verification process often relies on documents provided by the applicants themselves, increasing the risk of irregularities. The proposed changes aim to fill this gap and introduce a more comprehensive control system.
Implementation Timeline
According to the plans, the government intends to adopt the amendment project in the second quarter of 2026. If the legislative process runs according to schedule, the new regulations could come into force in the second half of the year.
Broader Context of Program Reforms
The changes are part of a broader context of reforms to the “Clean Air” program, which has been repeatedly modified in recent years. These included simplifying procedures, increasing funding levels, and expanding the catalog of eligible investments.
Pressure for Effective Spending
At the same time, there is growing pressure to spend public funds more effectively, including EU funds. According to the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, the number of applications submitted has already exceeded several million, and the value of grants paid out is counted in tens of billions of zlotys.
