“Financial security of Polish families is our priority. Without strong families, the state will not prevail,” said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Pogrzybów in the Wielkopolskie Voivodeship. As the Prime Minister indicated, the state has a very important role to play in this respect. For this reason, the Government is focusing, both right now and for the future, on preparing the best possible solutions. Solutions which will enable mothers to go back to work as soon as they want to after having a child, or fathers to stay with their children – paternity leave. “After all, the primary motto of all Government programs is freedom for Polish families, for parents,” stressed the Prime Minister.

The “Family 500+” programme – security and fulfilled dreams

The “Family 500+” programme is the most significant and genuinely felt financial support provided by the state for families raising children. Under the programme, families with children are entitled to a child care benefit of PLN 500 for each child under 18, regardless of the income earned by the family or the number of children.

Every month, the benefit is paid out for 6.5 million children. This means that since the launch of the programme in April 2016, approx. PLN 185 billion has already been paid out as support.

Family Care Capital – support for families with the youngest children

This is a new benefit for parents of children between 12 and 35 months old. Family Care Capital means either PLN 500 or PLN 1000 per month. Parents can choose whether they want to receive PLN 500 per month for 24 months or PLN 1000 per month for 12 months. This means PLN 12 thousand in total for the second and each subsequent child. Families are entitled to the benefit regardless of their income.

In 2022, approx. 615 thousand children will be covered by the Family Care Capital, and approx. PLN 3.1 billion will be paid out as support. By the end of April of this year, PLN 1.36 billion has been paid out under the benefit. So far, support has covered 471.6 thousand children.

Support for each child attending a nursery school – PLN 400 per child for the establishment

We have also not forgotten about other children – the first and only ones in the family or those who are not eligible under the Family Care Capital e.g. due to age. For them, on 1 April 2022 we have begun to provide support for each child attending a nursery school, a children’s club or a daycare centre. This means up to PLN 400 per month as support paid directly to the establishment.

This year, support will cover approx. 110 thousand children.

The “Toddler+” programme – more care establishments for children aged 3 or less

We are improving access to, among others, nursery schools and children’s clubs through the “Toddler+” programme.

Poland already has over 7.5 thousand establishments, able to provide care for over 220 thousand children. By comparison, in 2015, care could be provided for only 84 thousand children. Last year, the budget allocated towards the “Toddler+” programme was PLN 450 million. During the 2021 edition, our support helped create the capacity to provide care for more than 25 thousand additional children and ensure the continued capacity to provide care for nearly 113 thousand children.

The “Good Start” programme – an investment in the education of Polish children

This programme was launched in 2018. It entails a one-time support of PLN 300 for all children who are starting their school year. Families are entitled to receive support regardless of their income.

Between 2018 and 2021, we spent nearly PLN 5.3 billion towards the programme. During that period, support was provided to approx. 4.4 million children every year. In 2022, the budget allocated towards the programme is PLN 1.33 billion.

The “Mother 4+” programme – an appreciation of the difficulty of parenthood

Parenthood brings immense love and happiness, but also requires giving up and sacrificing a lot. Raising four or more children is a challenge. As they stop working or work too little to earn the right to a minimum pension, mothers find themselves in a difficult situation. The “Mother 4+” programme was launched with those mothers in mind. It is a parental supplementary benefit equal to minimum pension, which as of 1 March 2022 is PLN 1338.44 gross.

Since the beginning of March 2019, when the “Mother 4+” programme was launched, a total of over PLN 1.22 billion has been paid out as support. The benefit covers 66.5 thousand people.

Poland is promoting pro-family topics in the international community

To reinforce its pro-family actions, Poland joined forces with other countries within the United Nations. In December 2019, Brazil, Poland, the United States and Hungary announced the “Partnership for Families” initiative.

Its goal is to promote family and pro-family policies in the international community. The initiative is a framework platform for engaging in dialogue and sharing experience and good practices.