ZUS tightens checks on recipients of 800+ payments: new rules for Ukrainians

ZUS in Poland has announced a new control system for recipients of 800+ benefits, including Ukrainians. From 2026, only those who work and actually live in Poland will be eligible for payments. Find out who will be affected by the checks and what new rules will apply to foreigners

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The Social Insurance Institution of Poland (ZUS) has announced the introduction of a new control system for recipients of 800+ benefits, including Ukrainians. This was reported by inpoland.

From now on, receiving benefits will be directly linked to confirmation of employment and actual residence in Poland.

What will change?

Under the new rules, verification of professional activity will start in two stages:

from February 2026 — for Ukrainian citizens,

from June 2026 — for other foreigners.

To retain their right to assistance, foreigners must confirm their employment in Poland. This means earning at least 50% of the minimum wage, i.e., at least PLN 2,333 gross per month in 2025.

The verification will be carried out automatically — ZUS will receive information from other state institutions. In some cases, recipients may be asked to provide additional documents confirming their employment or residence in Poland.

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Why is this necessary?

ZUS notes that monthly monitoring will help to identify more quickly those who have lost their jobs or left the country. If a person is no longer working or actually residing in Poland, the 800+ payments will be automatically suspended.

In this way, the Polish authorities are seeking to make the social assistance system more transparent and effective, so that only those who actually live and work in Poland receive support.

If you have difficulty understanding the procedures or document requirements, it is advisable to seek the help of immigration lawyers. For example, on the Visit Ukraine portal, Ukrainians can get advice and support for legalization in Poland. This helps to avoid mistakes that could lead to rejection and saves time in complex legal processes.

Not sure which consultation format to choose? Contact our managers via Telegram or WhatsApp – they will help you choose the best option for your situation.

We remind you! Poland plans to tighten the conditions for foreigners to obtain citizenship. Read how many years you now need to live in the country to be eligible for citizenship under the new rules.

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