New Rules for “Active Parent” Program Headed to Parliament in July

The Polish government has introduced legislative amendments to the “Active Parent” program, aiming to clarify eligibility criteria for working parents, beneficiaries of special social schemes, and families facing bereavement.

Addressing Program Implementation Gaps

Following the initial months of the “Active Parent” program, the government has identified several regulatory ambiguities. A draft amendment to the Act on Childcare for Children Under Age 3 will be addressed by the Sejm during its July 1-3 session to streamline benefit distribution.

KRUS and Professional Activity Requirements

The amendment clarifies professional activity conditions, specifically excluding certain agricultural insurance titles from the eligibility catalog. This primarily affects individuals covered by KRUS who do not conduct actual agricultural activity, such as those receiving structural pensions.

Adjusting for Mały ZUS Plus

The new regulations will explicitly account for entrepreneurs using the Mały ZUS Plus relief. Eligibility assessments for professional activity will now properly reflect the specific nature of this contribution scheme, where rates are individually calculated based on previous income.

Calculating Activity for Irregular Earnings

Rules for individuals on civil law contracts (umowa zlecenie) with non-monthly payment cycles will be refined. If compensation covers multiple months, the amount will be pro-rated to accurately determine eligibility for program benefits.

Protections Following a Parent’s Death

The project introduces continuity protections for families in the event of a beneficiary parent’s death. The surviving parent or guardian may assume the benefit by submitting an application within three months, mirroring the mechanisms currently used in the 800+ program.

Streamlining the Application Process

To prevent loss of support due to administrative errors, parents who apply for the wrong benefit type will be allowed to reapply for the correct one without losing the original filing date. This change also applies to cases currently in progress.

Program Scope and Timeline

The amendment will take effect 14 days after its announcement and apply to both new and pending cases. Launched on October 1, 2024, the program supports parents of children aged 12-35 months through three distinct benefits aimed at balancing professional work with childcare.