Poland confirms 800 Plus child benefit continues unchanged, deadline June 30

The Polish government has rejected rumors of limiting the 800 Plus child benefit. Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy Aleksandra Gajewska stated that no changes to the amount or eligibility criteria are being planned and the programme will continue on its current terms.

800 Plus provides 800 zl per month for each child under 18, regardless of family income, with a reduced 400 zl amount for shared custody. In 2024 the program cost 66.2 bn zl and, while it has not boosted fertility – births fell to 251 000 and the total fertility rate dropped to 1.1 – it contributed to a reduction in extreme poverty, which fell to 5.2 %. The current benefit period runs from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027; applications must be submitted electronically by 30 June to avoid losing the June payment. Over 3.8 million applications have already been filed for nearly 5.6 million children, but about one million families have yet to submit the required request. The ministry is working on an automatic renewal system that would extend the benefit without a new application if the family's situation remains unchanged.