As of 1 June 2025, the Social Insurance Institution has introduced crucial changes in the rules for granting the benefit 800 plus for Ukrainian citizens. The fresh request concerns the education of children in Polish schools and kindergartens. Estimates propose that the right to benefit may lose up to 140,000 children.
New transportation period – fresh rules
June 1, 2025 a fresh programme transportation period begins 800 pluswhich is presently besides available Ukrainian citizens legally residing in Poland with children. On that date, an additional condition will apply which will be subject to verification by ZUS – the kid must attend a kindergarten or school operating in the Polish education system.
So far, the benefit was paid if the Ukrainian citizen and his kid were in Poland. Now he'll come additional requirement – educational work must be implemented in Poland. Children who do not attend Polish facilities will be automatically excluded from the support system.
Who loses 800 plus? The estimates are alarming.
These changes may affect tens of thousands of Ukrainian families. According to ‘Gazeta Wyborcza’, based on data from PESEL UKR register and Educational Information strategy (SIO) Ministry of National Education and Centre for Civic Education, The number of children of Ukrainian citizens not participating in the Polish education strategy can scope as many as 143 000. They're the ones who'll possibly lose their right to benefit.
Assuming that each of these kids utilized the 800 plus program, we're talking about loss of financial support of PLN 800 per period per child, i.e. on a yearly basis 9 600 zł. full this may mean State spending decreased by over PLN 1.3 billion per year, although authoritative estimates have not yet been presented by the government.
ZUS will check the right to benefit without additional documents
Parents do not gotta worry about providing certificates from schools or kindergartens. Explains Grzegorz Dyjak from ZUS Central, verification of the fulfilment of the fresh condition will take place automatic.
– Implementation of the work to prepare pre-school, school or learning work must be confirmed in the Educational Information strategy (SIO) – explains Dyjak. – Parents are not obliged to include certificates from school or kindergarten.
ZUS will check the data in the databases to which it has access and will decide on this basis to grant or refuse benefits. This means that possible errors in the SIO registry may straight affect the administrative decision.
Legal basis: Act on assistance to Ukrainian citizens
The fresh condition applies to children stay in Poland is considered legal under Article 2(1) of the Law of 12 March 2022 on the assistance of Ukrainian citizens in connection with an armed conflict within the territory of that country. It has been for this group of children since 2022 that access to social benefits has been opened on the same terms as for Polish citizens.
The change aims at sealing the strategy and matching benefits to the real conditions of residence and integration of Ukrainian citizens into the Polish society.
Objective of change: integration, education and budget control
According to unofficial signals from government circles, changes have support the integration of Ukrainian children into the Polish education systemand increase control over budgetary expenditure. In practice, this means cutting off benefits for those families who do not participate in the public system, which can besides hit families educating children outside schools (e.g. remotely, abroad or in home education without formal notification).
This change forms part of a broader policy of sealing social programmes and combating fraud, which has been repeatedly signalled by the ultimate Audit Office and public opinion.
What's next? Families should act now
Parents of children from Ukraine who want to proceed receiving a benefit of 800 plus should make certain that their children are registered in the Polish education system And they're in the SIO database. Otherwise, the benefit may be suspended or completely withdrawn from June.
Importantly, simply submitting an application without gathering the educational condition is not enough. deficiency of affirmative verification in the strategy results automatic refusal or suspension of payments.
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ZUS introduces controls 800 plus for Ukrainians: thousands of families will lose their benefits
