The information on this page was collected from public resources.

What other forms of social support/welfare should I know about? (Buddy systems, etc.) Who is eligible? How does someone apply?

Ukrainian citizens who are students at Polish universities have a right to apply for a social scholarship and for a student loan. You can also take advantage of free legal aid and free psychological assistance. Also, in many cities and villages, creative activities and workshops for children and youth from Ukraine are organized, so ask about it at the nearest Urzฤ…d Gminy, Urzฤ…d Miasta, school or community center.

The condition for receiving ZUS benefits by a Ukrainian citizen is having a PESEL number mceclip0.png. This number may be necessary to obtain many other benefits as well as to set up a business.

Ukrainian immigrants in Poland can receive new financial assistance โ€” 710 zlotys for the head of the household and 610 zlotys for each member of the household. The funds are disbursed within the Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) project of Diakonia Poland and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe to support displaced people affected by the war.

As stated on the project page, applications can be submitted by:

  • Applicants who arrived in Poland on or after February 24, 2022 and were affected by the war, regardless of their nationality.
  • Applicants who are legally registered in Poland under temporary protection (PESEL registration) or international protection.
  • Households that have not received or are not receiving assistance from Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) programs such as UNHCR, DKH or other humanitarian organizations. If you have received or are receiving support from social services in Poland, you can still apply.
  • An applicant who is economically vulnerable (household members who do not have access to regular income sufficient to cover the household's minimum standard of living).

Approximately 2,500 households can apply for cash assistance, priority will be given to the most vulnerable families.

To apply, you need:

  1. Make an appointment at the nearest examination center using the link mceclip0.png. If you cannot come to the meeting due to your health, call one of the following numbers: 800 000 232, 800 011 177, 0048918199499.
  2. Come to the inspection center on the selected date and time. When you submit your ID for verification, you will receive a unique verification code.
  3. Using the control code, you need to apply for the program at the link mceclip0.png.

More detailed information about financial assistance can be found on the project page mceclip0.png.

Are there any social benefits I can claim such as child support?

Yes. You can receive 500 PLN monthly for every child you have below 18 by submitting an application to ZUS.

Family care capital (RKO) can be obtained for a child between the ages of 12 and 35 months. The capital is provided for the second and each subsequent child in the family, if the child lives with one of the parents and remains dependent on him. One of the child's parents decides whether he wants to receive an allowance of PLN 500 for 24 months or PLN 1,000 for 12 months. The total amount of capital is up to 12 thousand zlotys per child.

You can also receive additional 300 PLN for a school starter kit for each child up to the age of 20, if they are attending school. The application can be submitted to a bank or directly to the Social Insurance Institution mceclip0.png. This benefit is paid every year to parents of school-age children, which is to help prepare the child for school, that is, to buy textbooks and other necessary items.

As a citizen of Ukraine, you can also claim other social benefits:

  • family assistance with allowances;
  • parental assistance;
  • one-time assistance at the birth of a child;
  • care assistance for people with disabilities;
  • assistance in caring for a disabled child;
  • special care assistance for a disabled family member;
  • the "Good Start" benefit, which parents of schoolchildren receive to purchase school supplies and prepare for the new school year.

You can find out more about the conditions for receiving and the amount of family benefits at the link mceclip0.png.

Ukrainians can quickly apply for financial payments through the mZUS application

mZUS is a mobile application from the Social Insurance Office (ZUS). This application is intended for parents and guardians of children who may benefit from family assistance programs. In particular, mZUS is available to Ukrainian immigrants.

From March 2 mceclip0.png, through the mZUS application, Ukrainians can receive payments under the following programs:

  • co-financing the cost of a child's stay in a children's institution for families with children under the age of three;
  • family care capital - 12,000 zlotys for the second and each subsequent child in the family, aged from 12 to 35 months;
  • "Family 500+" - subsidy in the amount of 500 zlotys per month for each child, regardless of parents' income;
  • the "Good Start" benefit.

In the mZUS application you will be able to:

  • check the status of your application and data on the payment of assistance;
  • call the ZUS hotline;
  • book an electronic visit to ZUS;
  • view received messages in your personal account on the PUE ZUS platform;
  • receive notifications about payment application deadlines.

You can download the application through Google Play mceclip0.png and IOS mceclip0.png.

It should be noted that each program has its own application deadlines:

  • co-financing the cost of a child's stay in a children's institution - during the year;
  • family capital of guardianship - during the year;
  • "Family 500+" - from February 1, if they received payments last year. If the application is submitted for the first time - within a year;
  • "Good Start" benefit - from July 1 to November 30.

Financial assistance from the Polish Red Cross for Ukrainians in Poland

Ukrainians in Poznaล„ and Bydgoszcz can receive financial assistance from the Polish Red Cross.

The amount of assistance is 1,420 zlotys per person and another 1,220 zlotys for each additional person in the family (up to five people in the family). Assistance is provided once a month for two months.

  • one person - PLN 1,420/month;
  • a family of two - PLN 2,640/month;
  • a family of three - PLN 3,860/month;
  • family of four - PLN 5,080/month;
  • five or more family members - PLN 6,300/month.

Cash assistance is available to people:

  1. Who left Ukraine after February 24, 2022 (including February 24) due to the war.
  2. Who are currently in Poznaล„ County (Poznaล„) or Bydgoszcz County (Bydgoszcz).
  3. Who did not receive financial assistance from other humanitarian organizations.
  4. The average household income must be equal to or less than PLN 2,450.
  5. Which fall under one of the following categories:
  • a household headed by one person with 1 child (under 18 years old) or an elderly person (aged 60 years and older);
  • a household headed by an elderly person (age 60 and older);
  • household with 2 or more dependents (<18 years, >60 years)
  • a household with one or more persons with disabilities.

To get help, you need to download the AccessRC mobile app, create an account and apply for financial assistance.

Registration deadline:

  • until May 26 in Poznaล„ County (Poznaล„);
  • from May 22 to 31 in Bydgoszcz District (Bydgoszcz).

You can read more about registration for financial assistance on the IFRC website mceclip0.png.

Parents of children attending daycare can receive monthly financial assistance in the amount of 400 zlotys. More information here mceclip0.png.

The Polish Center for International Assistance (PCPM Foundation) provides financial assistance to Ukrainians in Poland.

For this purpose, two assistance programs were created for Ukrainians who came to Poland:

  • no earlier than February 15, 2023;
  • after February 24, 2022.

The first aid program is intended for families and individuals from Ukraine who arrived in Poland no earlier than February 15, 2023, and meet all three of the following criteria:

  • arrived in Poland no earlier than February 15, 2023 and received a PESEL number with UKR status after that date;
  • your family has not yet received financial assistance in the amount of PLN 710/610 for three months from any humanitarian organization in Poland;
  • you or someone from your family belongs to at least one of the vulnerable categories of the population.

As part of this program, you can receive assistance for 3 months for each family member (up to 4 people): PLN 710 for one person and PLN 610 for each other family member.

The second program applies to Ukrainians who came to Poland after February 24, 2022 and meet all three of the following criteria:

  • currently do not receive 3-month cash assistance for basic family needs from any humanitarian organization in Poland (in the amount of PLN 710/610) and have never received 6-month assistance from PCPM;
  • do not receive monthly social assistance from the Polish state (with the exception of the 500+ program or other types of assistance up to PLN 200 per month);
  • belong to one of 3 groups of vulnerable population categories:
  1. elderly people (60+), in whose household (family living with them in Poland) there are no persons aged 18-59;
  2. people with a disability that significantly hinders their daily life activities and access to work, with a maximum of 1 person in the household aged 18-59 (excluding them);
  3. people with chronic diseases or those who need regular treatment that significantly affects their daily life and access to the labor market, with a maximum of 1 person in the household aged 18-59 (excluding them).

Such Ukrainians can receive a monthly allowance of 1,000 zlotys for 6 months per family member.

You can apply for assistance by filling out a special questionnaire.

Questionnaire mceclip0.png.

Source mceclip0.png.

Are there any social benefits for pregnant and nursing women?

You can receive 500 PLN monthly for child by submitting an application to ZUS. You can also receive childbirth allowance (becikowe) in the amount of PLN 1,000 (for that submit an application at the Urzฤ…d Miasta or Urzฤ…d Gminy). After the birth of a child, you can apply for parental benefit in the amount of PLN 1,000 every month. The application must be submitted within 3 months of the child's birth at ZUS.

How can I meet and socialize with other Ukrainians in a similar position?
Are there specific social supports available to me if I am elderly?

You are entitled to a nursing allowance in the amount of PLN 135 if you are older age (over 75) to partially cover the expenses related to your care. Older people may also benefit from partial or full reimbursement of drugs. Also, if you have a guardian/carer (who is a family member), they may additionally apply for allowances and care benefits, i.e. nursing allowance (zasiล‚ek pielฤ™gnacyjny)- it amounts to PLN 215.84 per month, nursing benefit (ล›wiadczenie pielฤ™gnacyjne) - PLN 2,119 per month, special care allowance (specjalny zasiล‚ek opiekuล„czy) - it amounts to PLN 620 per month. More information on social support is here mceclip0.png.

Are there specific social supports available to me if I have a disability?

You are entitled to a nursing allowance in the amount of PLN 135 if you are unable to live independently due to disability to partially cover the expenses related to your care. If you have an assistant/carer (who is a family member), they may additionally apply for allowances and care benefits, i.e. nursing allowance (zasiล‚ek pielฤ™gnacyjny)- it amounts to PLN 215.84 per month, nursing benefit (ล›wiadczenie pielฤ™gnacyjne) - PLN 2,119 per month, special care allowance (specjalny zasiล‚ek opiekuล„czy) - it amounts to PLN 620 per month. More information on social support is here mceclip0.png.

Foreigners are entitled to special care allowance payments (Specjalny zasiล‚ek opiekuล„czy). For this, they must live in Poland and fall under one of the following categories:

  • Ukrainians with a PESEL code;
  • foreigners who have the status of a refugee or additional protection in Poland;
  • foreigners who have a temporary residence permit for the purpose of work, which was issued in Poland or another EU country;
  • foreigners who have a permanent residence permit in Poland or EU countries.

To qualify for benefits, the combined income of the family of the caregiver and the family of the person requiring care per person must not exceed PLN 764 net income.

  • If a person with a disability is a minor, then the family includes: this person, his parents (or the wife/husband of one of the parents, if they do not live together) and persons with whom the parents of the person with a disability raise the child.
  • If a person with a disability is an adult, the family includes: this person, his or her husband or wife, or a person with whom a person with a disability is raising a child.

To receive payments, the following documents must be submitted to the city/rural administration or social security administration at the place of residence:

  • Application for assistance (the application form can be found at the link mceclip0.png);
  • A copy of the certificate of incapacity for work or a certificate about the disability group of the person who needs care;
  • Certificate or declaration of income.

Ukrainian migrants with disabilities who arrived in Poland after February 24 this year will be able to receive mceclip0.png financial assistance from the PCPM International Assistance Center.ย 

Individuals must also meet the following criteria:

  1. left Ukraine and crossed the Polish border after the start of the full-scale war;
  2. have never participated in the programs of the Polish Center for International Assistance. If you received multipurpose assistance, work assistance, or other financial support from an organization, your application will not be considered. The initiative is designed for new members.
  3. have the opportunity to present documentation confirming the first or second group of disability. Supporting papers without an assigned group are required for a child.

Guardians and parents of a child with a disability can also register if they live in Poland. Guardianship must be documented.

After the application is approved, you will receive PLN 710 per person. The amount will be credited to the recipient's bank account. The duration of the program is six months. Payments will be made monthly during this period.

More information here mceclip0.png.

How can I help others? What volunteering organisations could I join?