The 800 Plus programme: who will be eligible for payments in Poland after 30 September?

The ‘800 Plus’ programme in Poland will continue after 30 September, but payments to foreigners will be subject to a number of conditions. The new rules, prepared by the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, are aimed at streamlining the system and regularly checking applicants through ZUS. Find out which Ukrainians will be eligible for assistance

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On 30 September 2025, updated rules for the ‘800 Plus’ programme, which provides monthly payments for children, will come into force in Poland. The new conditions apply, in particular, to Ukrainians temporarily residing in Poland. According to inpoland, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration (MIA) has prepared a draft law to avoid a legal vacuum and streamline the process of providing assistance.

Key changes

The programme will be available to foreigners, but only if certain conditions are met:

▪️ the applicant is officially employed in Poland and pays social security contributions;

▪️ the applicant's child attends a Polish educational institution (school or kindergarten);

▪️ the foreigner legally resides in Poland and has up-to-date data in the registers.

ZUS will monitor and verify data

The Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) has been granted the right to check applicants' data in the Border Guard database on a monthly basis. This will allow violations to be identified and payments to be suspended promptly if the conditions of the programme are no longer met.

In practice, this means that every family with children must not only have legal status, but also actively participate in the Polish system — work and educate their children in Poland.

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Who will be affected by the changes

Ukrainians who:

▪️ continue to work in Poland,

▪️ have officially registered their stay,

▪️ and whose children attend local schools,

These people will continue to receive 800 Plus assistance. For those who lose one of the criteria, payments will be suspended.

The Polish authorities emphasise that the changes are not aimed at limiting assistance, but at systematising it. According to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Maciej Duszczyk, the measures will help avoid chaos after the transition period ends at the end of September.

Karolina Halecka, spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, specified that the bill will be submitted to the government for consideration in September.

If the payments are canceled, families where parents have not yet found permanent work or are in the process of legalizing their status will be particularly vulnerable. In such situations, it is especially important to have qualified legal assistance, which can be easily obtained by contacting the migration lawyers at Visit Ukraine. Our specialists will help you with paperwork, extending your legal stay, and protecting your rights abroad.

Reminder! Poland is launching the Aktywny Rodzic programme: from August 2025, parents will be able to receive up to PLN 1,500 per child, and up to PLN 1,900 for children with disabilities. Find out who is eligible for assistance and how to apply.

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