Polish Parliament Passes Non‑Cash Senior Care Voucher Law

The Sejm approved legislation establishing a "senior voucher" (bon senioralny) for Polish residents aged 65 and over who are citizens of Poland, the EU, EEA, Switzerland or the United Kingdom and whose average income does not exceed 3,410 zł. The voucher is a non‑cash benefit that funds up to 50 hours of personal care per month, provided in two‑week periods, and is granted for 12 months after an administrative decision. The programme will be funded with 1 billion zł from the state budget (100 m zł in 2026, 400 m zł in 2027, 500 m zł in 2028) and is expected to reach about 20,000 seniors, rolling out first in municipalities lacking public senior‑care services.

Polish law defines a senior as anyone 60 years old or older. In 2023, nearly 9.9 million people (26.3 % of the population) fell into this age group. Seniors benefit from a range of discounts and privileges, including reduced train fares, free or discounted local transport, free medicines for those 65+, tax relief for working seniors, and lower ticket prices for cultural events.

The new voucher adds a targeted, state‑funded support option to the existing suite of senior benefits.