Frequently asked questions about 500+ child benefit in Poland

If you work in Poland and your children live with you here, you may be entitled to obtain monthly benefits from a government program Rodzina 500+ (Family 500 PLUS).

**What is the Rodzina 500+ program and how does it work?**

A government program Rodzina 500+ or often called just the 500 PLUS, was created in 2016 and since then supports many families’ budgets in Poland. The benefit of PLN 500 (tax-free) is paid monthly for every child under 18 years old, regardless of family income. The foreigners who work in Poland can join this program under some conditions.

What are the conditions I have to meet to join the program?

You are entitled to participate in the program if at least one of the following statements refers to you:

You are a citizen of the European Union or the European Free Trade Association – EFTA (four countries belong to EFTA: Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland).
You are a citizen of one of the countries that have signed a bilateral social security agreement with Poland (including the USA, Canada, Moldova, South Korea or Ukraine).
You obtained a temporary residence work permit in a profession requiring high qualifications and live in Poland together with family members.
You have a residence card with the annotation “access to the labour market” and you live in Poland with family members (note – the possibility of obtaining “500 Plus” based on the annotation “access to the labour market” does not apply to people with a work permit in EU countries on a period not exceeding 6 months, non-EU and EFTA third-country nationals studying or performing seasonal work and third-country nationals working on the basis of a visa).
You stay in Poland as part of the intra-corporate transfer and live together with family members (note: the possibility of obtaining “500 Plus” on this basis does not apply to people who have the right to stay in Poland for a period not exceeding 9 months).
You stay in Poland to conduct scientific research (note: the possibility of obtaining “500 Plus” on this basis does not apply to people who have the right to stay in Poland for a period not exceeding 6 months).

What documents should I prepare?

All documents ought to be original copies and sworn translated if not written in Polish. It is a good idea to have a backup and bring also printed copies of all needed documents.

Application form (you can print it here but notice it is a form valid up to June 2021).
Passport of a parent who applies.
Confirmation of a legal stay in Poland such as Karta Pobytu (foreigners from outside the EU/EOG/Switzerland) or Registration of residence (citizens of the EU/EOG/Switzerland).
Temporary residence registration in the apartment where you live.
Passport of each child.
Birth certificate of each child.

Where to apply?

You can apply online if you have your Profil Zaufany – Trusted Profile (the form of your data confirmation) or the electronic signature. The websites are in Polish and all application needs to be in Polish too.

Check the following websites:

The ministerial Service and Information Platform “Emp@tia” https://empatia.mpips.gov.pl/
The electronic Platform of Public Administration Services ePUAP https://login.gov.pl/login/main
The electronic services platform of the Social Insurance Institution https://www.zus.pl/program-rodzina-500/zloz-wniosek-rodzina-500-i-dobry-start-przez-pue-zus
ICT systems of banks that offer this possibility.

You can also do it in person or send the documents via post (if you do so, always send it as a registered letter). The organisational unit which collects applications depends on the city or village where you live but mostly they are city or commune offices or social welfare centres. For example, in Warsaw, there are commune offices like Warszawa-Wilanów, Warszawa-Mokotów, etc.

In this case, remember that during the pandemic you have to book an appointment in the office first.

**What are the changes in the Program Rodzina 500+ in 2021?**

The amount of money does not amend but pay attention to dates because you need to renew an application.

All applications submitted after Jun 30, 2019, but before May 31, 2021, are granted until the end of the billing period of the program which is May 31, 2021. From June 2021, the benefit will be granted for one year (June 1 to May 31 of the following year) and will need to be renewed annually.

If you have already been beneficent of the program and want to continue, you need to re-apply (this is an application for the new period starting June 1, 2021). Submitting an application online is possible from February 1, 2021, and from April 1, 2021 via post or in person at the office.

If you have not applied before, you can join at any time, but still, need to register again to obtain incessant income for the period 1 June 2021 – 31 May 2022.

I expect a baby – when shall I apply?

You can apply when the baby is born and has a birth certificate. If you qualify and submit your application within 3 months from the child’s birth, you will receive the 500+ with compensation for the period from the birth of the child to the first payment. If you apply after 3 months, you will get only the current benefit.

I have changed the address. Do I need to inform the office about it?

Yes, you do. You agreed for that by signing the application. Your new address may belong to another organisational unit. It is sufficient to send an email with the new address information to the office where you applied before. If you hesitate, you may be obligated to return the money.

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