Late on 28 January the Sejm pushed through a hotly debated amendment that will fundamentally change how non-Polish residents access state benefits. Under the new Act, foreigners—including the roughly one million Ukrainians still living in Poland—will have to demonstrate active, contributory employment to receive the flagship ‘800+’ child-allowance and most health-service entitlements. President Karol Nawrocki had vetoed an earlier draft in August, insisting that social payouts be linked to tax contributions; the revised bill meets that demand and sailed through on a cross-party vote of 276-159.
Practically, the law introduces a ‘work-for-welfare’ test. Parents must show at least one month of ZUS (social-insurance) premiums paid within the previous quarter before submitting an online benefit application. Exceptions are limited to carers of disabled children. The Family Ministry says the move could save PLN 4 billion (€900 million) annually, funds it plans to redirect to childcare infrastructure.
For mobility and HR teams the timing is tight. Existing beneficiaries will continue to receive payments only until 31 January. From 1 February they must file fresh evidence of employment or lose the allowance pending review. Employers therefore face a spike in requests for payroll certificates and PESEL confirmations; failure to respond promptly could leave staff without income support, increasing retention risk.
![Polish Parliament Ties Foreigners’ Welfare Benefits to Formal Employment]()
Businesses and families looking for guidance on Polish residence and work documentation can streamline the process through VisaHQ, which offers up-to-date visa and permit advice as well as application concierge services. Its Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) lets users check requirements, prepare forms and arrange secure document delivery, helping employers and foreign employees stay compliant as the new ‘work-for-welfare’ test kicks in.
Legal advisers also warn that the change interacts with Poland’s immigration rules: many temporary-residence cards already oblige holders to work for the sponsoring company. A job loss now threatens both legal stay and family income, raising the stakes for termination decisions. Companies should review redundancy plans and consider transition support for affected foreign staff.
Politically, Warsaw is betting that stricter eligibility criteria will defuse public concern about benefit tourism while still encouraging labour-market participation. Neighbouring Germany and Czechia are watching closely as they weigh similar reforms for their own Ukrainian diasporas.
Practically, the law introduces a ‘work-for-welfare’ test. Parents must show at least one month of ZUS (social-insurance) premiums paid within the previous quarter before submitting an online benefit application. Exceptions are limited to carers of disabled children. The Family Ministry says the move could save PLN 4 billion (€900 million) annually, funds it plans to redirect to childcare infrastructure.
For mobility and HR teams the timing is tight. Existing beneficiaries will continue to receive payments only until 31 January. From 1 February they must file fresh evidence of employment or lose the allowance pending review. Employers therefore face a spike in requests for payroll certificates and PESEL confirmations; failure to respond promptly could leave staff without income support, increasing retention risk.
Businesses and families looking for guidance on Polish residence and work documentation can streamline the process through VisaHQ, which offers up-to-date visa and permit advice as well as application concierge services. Its Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) lets users check requirements, prepare forms and arrange secure document delivery, helping employers and foreign employees stay compliant as the new ‘work-for-welfare’ test kicks in.
Legal advisers also warn that the change interacts with Poland’s immigration rules: many temporary-residence cards already oblige holders to work for the sponsoring company. A job loss now threatens both legal stay and family income, raising the stakes for termination decisions. Companies should review redundancy plans and consider transition support for affected foreign staff.
Politically, Warsaw is betting that stricter eligibility criteria will defuse public concern about benefit tourism while still encouraging labour-market participation. Neighbouring Germany and Czechia are watching closely as they weigh similar reforms for their own Ukrainian diasporas.
