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"Good Start" is a PLN 300 benefit paid once a year to all students. It is an investment in the education of Polish children. This aid measure may reach more than 4.6 million students. Applications can be submitted as of 1 July.
According to CBOS data, in the case of families with one child, the total expenditure on school starter kits at the beginning of the school year 2017/2018 amounted to PLN 686 on average, for two students it was PLN 1,268 on average, and for families with at least three children – PLN 1,729 on average.
The "Good Start" Programme is another component of the comprehensive and long-term family policy pursued by the government. It consists of a one-off 300 PLN benefit provided to all students starting their school year. Importantly, families will receive benefits regardless of their income. The program covers children raised both in families and in foster care.
Who can receive support?
The "Good Start" benefit is granted once a year to children starting their school year until they reach the age of 20. Studying disabled children will receive it until they reach the age of 24.
How to receive the "Good Start" benefit?
In order to receive the benefit, an application must be submitted. It can be done by the child's mother or father, legal or actual guardian of the child, or in the case of children in foster care – by a foster parent, a person running a family orphanage, or a director of a care and education institution.
Where to submit the application?
Applications for the benefit will be accepted and handled by the same institutions that are currently handling the child-support benefit under the "Family 500+" programme. This includes the commune/municipal office, social welfare centre or other organisational unit (e.g. benefit centre) competent for the place of residence of the parent applying for a school starter kit (in the case of districts, the benefits will be provided by district family assistance centres).
When to apply?
The application – similarly to the applications for the child-support benefit under the "Family 500+" programme – can be submitted online as of 1 July through the website of the Ministry of Family empatia.mrpips.gov.pl and through the electronic banking websites of such banks as: Alior Bank SA, Bank Millennium SA, Bank Pekao SA, Bank Pocztowy SA, Bank Polskiej Spółdzielczości SA and select affiliated Cooperative Banks, Credit Agricole Bank Polska SA, Getin Noble Bank SA, ING Bank Śląski SA, mBank SA, Nest Bank S.A, PKO Bank Polski SA (and Inteligo), SGB-Bank SA as well as selected affiliated Cooperative Banks. The ability to submit the application will soon be available also from Bank BGŻ BNP Paribas, while Bank Zachodni WBK will join the information campaign on the "Good Start" programme and encourage submitting an application using the Trusted Profile.
From 1 August, applications may also be submitted by traditional (paper) means. Important! The application must be submitted by 30 November.
When will the family receive support?
In the case of applications submitted in July and August, families will receive the school starter kit no later than on 30 September. In the case of applications submitted in subsequent months, communes will have a maximum of 2 months from the date of submission to consider the application and pay the benefit. Submitting an application for the "Good Start" benefit in July and August guarantees payment no later than on 30 September.
More information can be found at: www.mrpips.gov.pl/DobryStart