ZUS Benefits Available for Parents of Preschoolers and Young Children

As the 2026/2027 school year approaches, parents of preschoolers and young children can apply for various financial support forms from ZUS and state institutions.

Types of Support for Parents of Preschoolers

State financial support for parents of young children can be divided into several categories. Some benefits are granted solely for having children, such as 800 plus, while others depend on family income, like the family allowance, or aim to activate parents, such as Active Parent.

The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy also runs the Active Toddler program. Although it targets nurseries, children’s clubs, and day caregivers by funding construction and equipment, it also helps parents return to work.

Family 800+ Program Also for Preschoolers

The Family 800+ program is a key child-rearing benefit for parents and legal or actual guardians. Applications can be submitted regardless of marital status, whether married, in an informal relationship, single, or divorced. For divorced parents, funds go to the primary caregiver, or are split evenly in shared custody.

The 800+ program is also accessible to directors of social welfare homes, foster families, family-type children’s homes, care-and-education facilities, regional care-and-education centers, and interventional pre-adoption centers if children are placed in foster care.

The 800+ benefit is granted for every child until they turn 18, regardless of family financial status, providing significant budgetary support for parents of preschoolers.

Allowance for Low-Income Families with Young Children

The family allowance supports low-income families. The income threshold per family member cannot exceed 674 PLN, or 764 PLN for families with a child holding a disability certificate or a moderate or severe disability degree certificate.

The family allowance is granted to parents, single parents, or legal guardians for children up to 18 years old, or up to 21 years old if studying, and up to 24 years old with a disability certificate. Studying individuals in specific life situations may also apply.

For preschool-aged children, the family allowance is 95 PLN monthly for children up to age 5, and 124 PLN monthly for children over age 5. Recipients are also entitled to a one-time 100 PLN benefit for starting the mandatory reception year known as zerówka.

Active Parent Program

The Active Parent program is a specific support type for parents of young children, comprising three benefit types: active parents at work (grandmother’s allowance), actively in the nursery, and actively at home.

The grandmother’s allowance is a colloquial term for a 1500 PLN benefit allocated for organizing childcare at home for children aged 12 to 35 months. This benefit is not granted if the child attends a nursery or preschool.

The actively in the nursery benefit provides up to 1500 PLN for nursery placement costs, capped at the actual fee charged by the facility. The child’s age is not decisive, as long as the care is provided by a qualifying institution, which can sometimes accept children from 2.5 years of age.

The actively at home benefit supports parents and guardians caring independently for children aged 12 to 35 months. If a child under 35 months attends preschool, parents retain the right to this 500 PLN monthly benefit, which is exclusively for the youngest preschoolers.

Amendments to the law on childcare for children up to age 3 are currently underway, with the Senate introducing amendments and forwarding the bill to committees on July 22, 2026. However, these changes do not alter the age of children covered or institutional care provisions.