Poland Restricts 800 Plus for Ukrainians: Who Will Lose Benefits from 2025.

According to inkorr.com: In Poland, changes are being prepared for the social program '800 plus', which provides monthly payments for children. Ukrainian refugees will be able to receive this assistance under the same conditions as Poles until September 30, 2025. However, after that, the rules may become stricter.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the country proposes to limit access to benefits for foreigners, leaving it only for Ukrainians who are officially employed, pay contributions to the social system, and have children attending local schools or kindergartens.

According to the InPoland portal, the bill is to be submitted for government consideration in September. If approved, the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) will conduct compliance checks, which will have the right to cross-reference applicant data with the border service. This will allow for the cessation of payments if legal status is lost or criteria are not met.

New Conditions for Assistance

The changes are initiated by the new President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, who believes that assistance should only be provided to those who work and pay taxes. The previous bill, which proposed to maintain existing conditions and guaranteed Ukrainian families 800 zlotys per child along with free access to healthcare and education until March 2026, was vetoed by Nawrocki.

Initially, there was a dispute between the president and the government regarding these decisions, but eventually, a compromise was reached. The new version of the document plans not only changes in payments and access to healthcare but also a revision of the citizenship acquisition procedure. The time frame for obtaining citizenship may be extended from three to ten years.

Thus, new conditions for providing assistance to Ukrainian refugees under the '800 plus' program may appear in Poland. This concerns the right to benefits only for those who have official employment, pay contributions, and have children attending school or kindergarten.

In the new conditions of the '800 plus' program, emphasis is placed on supporting Ukrainians who work and pay taxes in Poland. This indicates a growing focus on the social aspects of refugee integration and the formation of policies that will motivate them to actively participate in the country's economy. It is expected that final decisions will be made soon, which will affect thousands of Ukrainian families who remained in Poland due to the war.