School Allowance for Students Facing Financial Hardship Due to Random Events in the 2026/2027 School Year

Discover how students facing sudden financial distress from random events can secure a one-time school allowance and educational support during the 2026/2027 academic year.

Introduction to School Allowances

A home fire, a family member’s illness, or a parent’s death are just some of the random events that can significantly impact a student’s financial situation. The education system does not leave them without support in such situations and, to overcome barriers in accessing education, allows for the granting of a one-time school allowance. Check how much and how to receive the benefit in the 2026/2027 school year.

A school allowance is a form of material assistance from state budget funds or the budget of the appropriate local government unit granted to students to reduce disparities in access to education and enable them to overcome barriers resulting from a difficult financial situation.

The school allowance is a social benefit granted once and non-repayably to a student who is in a difficult situation due to a random event. Importantly, the financial difficulties of the family and the student must be of a temporary nature.

Eligibility for the School Allowance

The right to a school allowance is granted to students of public schools, non-public schools, non-public art schools with public art school rights, and students of social service worker training colleges. They can use this entitlement until they finish their education, but no longer than until the age of 24.

The school allowance is also granted to pupils of public and non-public revalidation and education centers (ORW), which are facilities dedicated to children and youth with profound intellectual disabilities. They can benefit from the allowance until the completion of their compulsory schooling.

Importantly, the right of the student and the ORW pupil to apply for the school allowance is not dependent on the per capita family income criterion.

Definition of a Random Event

The key point from the perspective of the right to apply for a school allowance is defining the concept of a “random event.” First of all, it should be noted that it is not specified by the legislator. Furthermore, the right to define it does not belong to the municipal council where the municipality grants and pays the allowance.

Therefore, reference must be made to jurisprudence, according to which a random event covers particularly justified cases that simultaneously deviate from typical family life situations (judgment of the Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw, case file II SA/Wa 1318/19). Thus, a random event must be characterized by randomness, sudden occurrence, an extraordinary nature, and stem from unpredictable circumstances beyond the control of the family members.

What does this mean in practice? Random events may include a home fire, a parent’s accident, or the illness or death of a family member. The Voivodeship Administrative Court in Wrocław also noted, however, that a random event will not be chronic treatment due to numerous ailments (case file IV SA/Wr 552/16).

Amount of the School Allowance

The amount of the school allowance depends on the nature of the random event, the individual circumstances of the case, and the student’s situation. However, its maximum amount cannot exceed a one-time sum equal to five times the family allowance granted for a child between the ages of five and 18. Therefore, it cannot be higher than 620 PLN.

Does this mean that a student in need of help due to a random event can receive only 620 PLN in the 2026/2027 school year? No, because the legislator stipulated that the school allowance may be granted once or several times a year, not because of a single random event, but due to several different events. It is entirely possible that multiple circumstances constituting random events and worsening the family’s financial situation may occur.

Rules for Granting the School Allowance

Granting school allowances is among the duties of the municipality. The detailed procedure and method of support are determined in the regulations for granting social material assistance issued by the municipal council. The regulations also specify the form of the benefit, which may take the form of a monetary benefit to cover expenses related to the educational process, or a benefit in the form of educational material assistance.

It should also be remembered that the allowance is issued upon application, which can be submitted within two months from the date of the random event.

Legal Basis

Act of September 7, 1991, on the education system, Journal of Laws of 1991 No. 95 item 425.

Act of November 28, 2003, on family benefits, Journal of Laws of 2003 item 228 No. 2255.

Act of March 12, 2004, on social assistance, Journal of Laws of 2004 item 64 No. 593.

gov.pl.