Poland’s family allowance, including supplements for childcare and education, will continue through 2026 and 2027, with potential adjustments evaluated in 2027.
Family Allowance and Supplements: An Overview
Family allowance and related supplements are intended to partially cover the costs of raising a child. This benefit is available to parents, legal guardians, foster parents, and students.
Eligibility, Conditions, and Amount
The family allowance aims to partially cover the costs associated with a child’s upkeep. Eligibility, along with any applicable supplements, extends to parents or legal guardians, foster parents, and students.
Allowance Duration and Amount Based on Age
Family allowance is paid until a child reaches a certain age or completes their education. Generally, the allowance is paid until the child turns 18, but can be extended to 21 if the child continues their education.
For students with a moderate or significant disability, the allowance can be paid up to age 24, provided they continue their education. The same age limit applies to students in general.
If higher education is completed during the final year of study, the right to the allowance is maintained until the end of that year, but not beyond the age of 24.
Monthly Allowance Amounts
The monthly amount of the family allowance depends on the child’s age. The allowance is 95 zł for children under 5 years old, 124 zł for children over 5 up to 18 years old, and 135 zł for those between 18 and 24 years old.
Indexation and Future Adjustments
The amount of the family allowance and income criteria for eligibility are not automatically adjusted annually. They are subject to indexation, which typically occurs every three years.
The next statutory review of family benefit amounts (excluding care allowance) is scheduled for 2027, raising the question of whether parents can expect higher amounts from November 2026.
However, a review does not automatically guarantee an increase in benefits.
Circumstances Disqualifying Allowance Eligibility
The allowance is not granted if the child or student is married, placed in full-time care, or if a student is in full-time care. It is also not granted if a child or student is eligible for an allowance on their own child.
For single parents, the allowance is not granted unless child support has been legally established, except in cases of death, unknown father, dismissal of an alimony claim, or a court order for full maintenance by one parent. The allowance is also denied if the child is under joint custody with equal time sharing.
The allowance is also not granted if a family member receives a similar benefit from abroad, unless international agreements allow for it.
Additional Supplements to Family Allowance
Additional benefits may be granted alongside the family allowance, depending on the child’s and family’s circumstances, including birth, maternity leave, single parenthood, and large families.
Supplements also cover education, rehabilitation for children with disabilities, starting school, and studying away from home.
Birth Allowance
The birth allowance is available to the mother, father, or legal guardian, and potentially the foster parent, provided the child is under one year old and the allowance hasn’t already been granted to the parents or legal guardian.
This is a one-time payment of 1000 zł. If multiple children are born in one birth or a child is adopted, the allowance is paid for each child separately.
Eligibility requires the mother to be under medical care from at least the 10th week of pregnancy until delivery, confirmed by a medical certificate.
Allowance for Childcare During Maternity Leave
The childcare allowance during maternity leave is available to mothers, fathers, legal guardians, or foster parents who are actively caring for the child and entitled to maternity leave.
The allowance is paid for 24 months, 36 months for multiple births, or 72 months for children with disabilities. The amount is 400 zł per month, regardless of the number of children under care.
If both parents take maternity leave, only one allowance is paid. The allowance is not paid to those employed for less than six months before leave, those who take a job preventing personal care, or when the child is in full-time care.
Allowance for Single-Parent Families
The allowance for single-parent families is available to mothers, fathers, legal guardians, or foster parents raising a child without the support of the other parent and without a court-ordered alimony payment. It also applies if both parents are deceased.
The allowance is 193 zł per month per child, with a maximum of 386 zł for all children. For children with disabilities, the amount increases by 80 zł per child (maximum 160 zł for all children).
Families with the lowest incomes may receive an additional 50 zł per child (maximum 100 zł total).
Back-to-School Allowance
The back-to-school allowance is available to parents, legal guardians, foster parents, and students to help cover school start-up costs.
It is paid once a year for each child and amounts to 100 zł. The application must be submitted by the end of the benefit year in which the school year or preschool preparation begins.
Allowance for Studying Away From Home
An allowance is available for students studying in a school located outside their place of residence, or for students with disabilities. The amount is 113 zł per month for those residing in the school’s location, or 69 zł for those commuting.
The allowance is paid for 10 months of the school year, from September to June.