The rising cost of surviving the flat in 2025 is 1 of the biggest challenges for home budgets in Poland. advanced rental prices, costly media and operating charges make it increasingly hard for many people to settle dues on time. In this situation, key support may be housing allowance – a form of non-refundable financial assistance from the State aimed at low-income people. This is not a debt or a bailout, but a regular, monthly donation that can importantly relieve the burden of the home budget. Many people do not realize that they meet the criteria to receive it, losing the chance of real support. In this article we will guide you step by step through all the rules, criteria and procedures. We will explain who precisely can number on the surcharge, which income and metre limits apply in 2025 and how effectively to apply to receive money to cover part of their housing expenses.
What precisely is simply a housing allowance, and who can apply for it?
The housing allowance is simply a cash benefit intended to aid cover the current expenses related to the occupied residential premises. Importantly, this aid is not only intended for tenants of municipal housing. The ellipse of eligible persons is much wider and includes persons with different legal title to the premises. This means that support can be sought:
- Renters and tenants of residential premises (both from the municipality and from the private market).
- Individuals surviving in premises to which they are entitled to a cooperative right to a dwelling (ownership or housing).
- Persons occupying dwellings in their property buildings and owners of independent dwellings.
- Homeowners.
- Other persons with a legal title to the premises occupied and bearing expenses related to its maintenance (e.g. under a debt agreement).
However, in order to benefit from this form of assistance, 2 fundamental conditions must be met at the same time: income criterion and metre criterion. It is these 2 pillars that yet decide to grant the benefit.
Income criterion in 2025. It's the key to getting support.
The most crucial component eligible for the allowance is the income of a household. In 2025, as in erstwhile years, the limits are linked to the average wage in the national economy, announced by the Central Statistical Office. The Act specifies that the average monthly income per household associate during the 3 months preceding the date of application shall not exceed:
- 40% of average salary – in the case of a single-person holding.
- 30% of average salary – in the case of a multi-person holding.
Given the economical forecasts for 2025, it is estimated that the average wage can oscillate between PLN 8500-8800 gross. This would mean that the income threshold for the single individual will be around 3400-3520 zł, and for each individual in a multi-person household about PLN 2550-2640. It is crucial to remember that "income" in this context is gross after deduction of the cost of obtaining it, social and wellness contributions and the income taxation due.
The meters matter. What surface limits apply?
The second condition is the appropriate space occupied by the premises. The legislator has defined the alleged ‘normative area’, which depends on the number of persons residing in a given household. These limits stay unchanged in 2025 and look as follows:
- for 1 individual – 35 m2
- for 2 persons, 40 m2
- for 3 people – 45 m2
- for 4 persons – 55 m2
- for 5 persons – 65 m2
- for 6 people – 70 m2
If there are more than 6 people in the household, the limit is increased by 5 m2 per person. What is very important, the housing allowance besides applies erstwhile the usable space of the premises exceeds the normative area by no more than 30%. There is besides a peculiar exception: if a individual with disabilities in a wheelchair or requiring residence in a separate area resides in the premises, the limit of the normative area is increased by an additional 15 m2.
How much can you gain, and how can you apply step by step?
The amount of the housing allowance is not fixed – it is calculated individually for each applicant. It is the difference between the expenditure on the normative area of the premises and the amount constituting the applicant’s own share of the expenditure. Own share is simply a certain percent of household income (e.g. 15% for a single-person household). In practice, this means that the lower the income and higher the cost of surviving the apartment, the higher the allowance can be obtained. This may be a sum from respective twelve to even respective 100 zlotys per month.
A fewer simple steps must be taken to apply for a benefit:
- Download the application: The form is available at the municipal office or municipality competent for the place of residence, and frequently besides at the Social Assistance Centre (MOPS/GOPS) or on their websites.
- Complete documents: The proposal must be attached income declaration all members of the household for the last 3 months, a paper confirming the legal title to the premises and papers confirming the amount of housing expenses for the last period (e.g. electricity, gas, water, rent invoices).
- Apply: A set of papers shall be submitted to the applicable office. The authoritative has a period to make a decision.
The allowance shall be granted for a period of 6 months from the first day of the period following the date of application. After this time, of course, you can submit another application. The money is most frequently transferred straight to the account of the property manager or landlord, which reduces the amount of rent we gotta pay out of our own pocket.
Read more:
The state will pay you extra rent. Check who and how much will be paid in the housing allowance
