No more July relief for the debtors. The government shall frost the amount free from seizure until 2026

July 2025 will bring large disappointment to millions of Polish families struggling with debt. A multi-annual tradition whereby the summertime minimum wage increase automatically increased the amount protected from the bailiff is interrupted. A government decision to quit the second year of national valorisation means that the amount free of charge will stay frozen unchanged until the end of the year. This is an unprecedented situation that will hit the home budgets of those hoping for even a minimal improvement in their financial situation.

This stagnation is simply a direct consequence of inflation inhibition. The mechanics of a double minimum wage increase, which over the years has been a safety buffer for the lowest earners, is only activated if the projected price index exceeds 105%. This year inflation developed below this threshold, which gave the government the legal basis for withdrawing from the July correction. For millions of debtors, this means 1 thing: the conditions for the repayment of liabilities to be improved will stay the same and the real value of the money remaining in the pocket may proceed to fall.

Why won't there be a second rise in 2025? Key indicator failed

The decision not to rise the minimum wage in July is not an arbitrary provision, but is based straight on the provisions in force. The Act makes the second year of valorisation dependent on the projected inflation level. If the rate of price increase for a given year exceeds 105% compared to the erstwhile year, the government is required to double the lowest remuneration – since January and July.

In 2025 this condition was not fulfilled. The actual inflation rate in the mention period was 103.6%, below the statutory threshold. Consequently, the minimum wage, which from 1 January 2025 is PLN 4666 gross, will stay at this level throughout the year. This, in turn, straight affects all related indicators, the most crucial of which is the amount free from repo.

Lack of valorisation is simply a systemic change that affects not only debtors. The minimum wage besides depends, among others, on the amount of certain social benefits, the night work allowance or the basis for the assessment of social safety contributions for any entrepreneurs. The year-round frost of the indicator means more stagnation in many areas of public and individual finances.

How much can a bailiff take off a salary? Limits for standard debts in 2025

In the case of the most common liabilities, specified as outstanding loans, loans, mandates or bills, Polish law seeks to keep a balance between the interests of the creditor and the protection of the debtor. According to the Labour Code, the bailiff can take up to 50% of net remuneration an worker employed for an employment contract.

However, a key safeguard mechanics here is the institution's amount free of seizure. This is simply a guaranteed threshold below which the bailiff cannot go down, providing the debtor with the means for basic maintenance. This amount is closely linked to the minimum payment and in 2025 is 100% minimum remuneration for net work. At the current rate of PLN 4666 gross, the amount free of charge for standard debts is about PLN 3499.50 net.

Freezing of the minimum wage means that this threshold will not increase in July as in erstwhile years of advanced inflation. For a individual earning for example PLN 5000 net, the bailiff will inactive be able to take up the amount up to the threshold of PLN 3499.50, or PLN 1500.50 per month. The debtors who expected the July increase to increase the amount at their disposal must verify their financial plans.

Maintenance debts without a discount tariff. Here the bailiff has no mercy

The situation is completely different for those who have maintenance delays. In this case, the legislator has adopted the rule of precedence to defend the needs of children and others entitled to benefits. The consequences for maintenance debtors are much more severe, and enforcement rules are much stricter.

First, the deduction limit is higher and is equal to or greater than 60% of net remuneration. This means that a bailiff may take more than half the wage of a individual obliged to pay alimony. However, this is not the most serious difference. The key change is the full abolition of the amount free of seizure. In practice, this means that the 60% limit applies from the first gold earned, no substance how low the debtor's wage is.

The deficiency of free money means that even earners of minimum wage gotta number off 60% of their income. This regulation aims at maximising the effectiveness of collecting claims for children, but at the same time it can lead to highly hard life situations for debtors, leaving them only 40% of their salary.

The strictest rules of execution. erstwhile can a bailiff charge up to 90% of the salary?

Polish law provides for even more restrictive execution scenarios, reserved for circumstantial types of obligations, mainly related to the employment relationship. They are sanctioned and dissuasive and the deduction limits are drastically high.

In the event of enforcement of claims on order penalties imposed by the employer under the Labour Code, the situation of the debtor becomes critical. In specified cases there are special, lower deduction-free amounts which are only meant to supply an absolute minimum of existence.
Here are the strictest limits:

• Payment of cash advances granted to the employee: the bailiff may take up to 75% of remuneration. In this case, the deduction-free amount is 75% of the minimum wage for work.
• Enforcement of cash penalties from the Labour Code: Deduction limit reaches 90% of the salary. The amount free of deduction is then the lowest and is 90% of the minimum wage for work.

It should besides be remembered that the situation is complicated for part-time workers. For them, all interest limits and interest-free amounts are calculated in proportion to the word of office, which further exacerbates their already hard financial situation.

What does this mean in practice? Consequences for millions of Poles

In summary, the government's decision to abandon the July minimum wage increase in 2025 is simply a blow to millions of indebted Poles. This means freezing the key safeguard mechanics – the amount free from seizure – at January level. Those who have planned their budgets with yearly relief will gotta operate in more hard conditions throughout the year.

Interestingly, paradoxically, workers who receive increases from another titles (e.g. industry, like medical personnel) may find themselves in a worse situation. Higher earnings mean a higher basis for calculating deductions. At the fixed threshold of the free amount, most of their increase will go straight to creditors alternatively than into their pockets. This legal stagnation, coupled with a inactive noticeable increase in the cost of living, makes 2025 an highly hard financial endurance test for many people in debt.