Poland proposes additional 60 days of care allowance for parents of seriously ill children

The Polish Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy has introduced a legislative project to provide an additional 60 days of paid care allowance for parents of seriously ill children under the age of 18. This new benefit would be granted independently of existing limits, potentially allowing parents to access up to 120 days of care in a single calendar year.

Under current regulations, the duration of care allowance is determined by the child's age or disability status, without accounting for the severity of specific illnesses. The proposed changes aim to address this by allowing doctors to grant the additional 60 days based on a child's health status, level of independence, and actual need for parental assistance. The ministry does not intend to create a closed list of qualifying diseases; instead, the decision will rest with the physician issuing the medical certificate.

The draft legislation, identified as UD484, was submitted for inter-ministerial consultations and social partner discussions on October 19, 2026.