A Polish Senate commission recently rejected a petition proposing financial bonuses of up to 8,000 zloty for couples celebrating long-term marriages, concluding a multi-stage legislative debate.
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Proposal for Long-Term Marriage Bonus
While various government benefits like “Babciowe,” “800 plus,” and “300 plus” have been introduced, some generations, particularly parents from the PRL era, have not received any financial gratuities. Promises of an additional benefit for spouses with long-standing marriages, enduring “for better or worse,” emerged nearly two years ago.
A petition was submitted to the Senate proposing that rewards for long marital service should not be limited to symbolic gifts, such as diplomas and medals from the President of the Republic of Poland, presented by local mayors. Instead, the petition advocated for concrete financial remuneration.
Up to 8,000 Złoty for Enduring Marriages
The core idea was to provide substantial financial support for those who had remained married for at least 50 years. For a 50-year marriage, the proposed reward would be 5,000 zloty. This amount would increase by 500 zloty every five years: 5,500 zloty for 55 years, 6,000 zloty for 60 years, 6,500 zloty for 65 years, and 7,000 zloty for 70 years.
For 75 years of marriage, the reward would grow to 7,500 zloty. Record-holders who spent 80 years together would receive 8,000 zloty. According to the petition’s authors, these long-married couples should receive a family benefit akin to the honorary pension paid monthly to centenarians, but distributed periodically and as a one-time payment.
The Petition’s Shifting Fortunes
Initially, a Senate committee deemed it necessary to consult the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Policy. The ministry’s leadership at the time, under the right-wing government, issued a negative opinion, effectively shelving the matter. However, under the new government, the course shifted, and the issue returned to the Senate committee on petitions, which convened in early December.
Progress stalled because the Ministry of Family had not prepared its opinion, prompting senators to grant the ministry more time. The Senate committee revisited the matter in late February. Senators Robert Mamątow and Michał Seweryński of Law and Justice argued that in an era of rising divorce rates, the state should financially value the durability of marital bonds. Ewa Matecka from Civic Platform expressed a differing view, stating that marriage should be based on respect and love, not financial benefits.
Another point of discussion was the frequency of payments: whether it should be a one-off sum or a benefit received every five or ten years. The matter returned in June, with deliberations on a draft bill prepared by the Legislative Bureau for the Senate’s Legislative Committee.
The committee requested the Legislative Bureau to prepare a new Regulatory Impact Assessment, considering various options, including one where the benefit would apply to all marriages with at least 50 years of service. It was noted that such a solution could entail additional budget expenditures significantly exceeding one billion zloty annually. Ultimately, the Petition Committee decided to revisit the matter in subsequent sessions.
Senate Commission Makes Decision
By June, it was estimated that implementing the new benefit would cost one billion zloty. Consequently, the Ministry of Finance negatively assessed the program’s introduction due to high costs and budget strain. Senators took up the petition again in mid-October.
The outcome was negative. Even the idea of reducing the pool to only couples celebrating their 50th anniversary failed to pass. The commission chairman, Robert Mamątow, stated that “the Commission decided by majority vote not to continue work on petition number P10-11/23,” though he added, “But perhaps in the future (…) we will return to the topic.”
A Cure for the Divorce Epidemic?
The proposal raised questions about whether such a new financial benefit could solidify marriages amidst a wave of divorces. Data from the Central Statistical Office indicates that in 2023 and 2024, nearly 57,000 couples divorced annually, having spent an average of over fourteen years together before separation.
Opponents of rewarding long-term couples argued that some spouses might remain in toxic relationships solely for financial gain. Other concerns included whether the award would still be applicable if one spouse died before receiving the benefit.