System of Social Assistance in Poland

Social assistance in Poland is regulated by the Law of 12 March 2004 on Social Assistance (uniform text Journal of Laws of 2016 item 930 with further amendments), and is organised by units of central and local administration in cooperation with organisations such as foundations, associations, the Catholic Church, other churches, religious groups, employers and both natural and legal persons. Units of social assistance are as follows:

 

The governmental administration at central and regional level also play an important role in the social assistance system. Voivode (regional level) is, among others, responsible for assessment of conditions and efficiency of social assistance as well as supervising the quality of activities and observation of standards of services provided by social assistance organisational units in communes and districts. The minister responsible for the social security sector (i.e. The Minister of Family,Labour and Social Policy) is in charge of creation of  the concept and strategy of social assistance, developing of  legal regulation in the field of social assistance, defining standards of services provided by social assistance organisational units as well as analysing the effectiveness of the measures taken.

 

The majority of social assistance services are provided by social assistance centres and powiat centres for family support. They are responsible for payment of cash benefits as well as non-financial assistance. Regional social policy centres focus on cooperation with providers and organisers of social assistance (for example NGOs). NGOs provide services such as: shelters for the homeless, homes for single mothers, day-care homes and other support centres, and many others.

 

 

 

According to the provisions of the Act on Social Assistance and  unless international agreements provide otherwise, the following persons are entitled to receive social assistance benefits:

 

   1)   persons holding Polish citizenship, residing and staying within the territory of the Republic of Poland;

 

   2)   foreigners residing and staying on the territory of the Republic of Poland:

 

a)  on the basis of the permit to settle, the long-term resident’s EC residence permit, or the residence permit for a fixed period, granted in connection with the circumstances referred to in Article 159 (1) (1) (c) or (d) or Article 186 (1) (3) of the Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners (Journal of Laws item 1650 and  Journal of Laws of 2014 item 463 and 1004), or in connection with being granted the refugee status or subsidiary protection,

 

b)  on the basis of the permit for tolerated stay, in the form of shelter, meal, necessary clothing and purpose benefit;

 

   3)   citizens of the European Union and of the member states of European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or Swiss Confederation, residing and staying on the territory of the Republic of Poland, as well as their family members within the meaning of Article 2 (4) of the Act of 14 July 2006 on the entry into, residence in and exit from the Republic of Poland of nationals of the European Union Member States and their family members (Journal of Laws of 2014 item 1525), who hold a stay permit or who have the right to permanent residence on the territory of the Republic of Poland.

 

Social assistance is granted to persons and families, in particular for the following reasons: poverty, orphanage, homelessness, need to protect motherhood, unemployment, disability, prolonged illness, incompetence in childcare matters likewise in running a household, particularly in case of incomplete and large families, alcoholism or drug addiction, difficulties in adjusting to life after discharge from penitentiary institution, natural or ecological disasters.

 

The main groups of social assistance beneficiaries are as follows:

 

Social assistance should lead to the social integration and social inclusion of its beneficiaries, as well as their greater activity and independence.

 

 

Social assistance consists of various categories of cash benefits as well as different forms of non-financial support e.g. services in the form of social work, care services, specialist counselling, help in settling official matters or other key livelihood issues.

 

Cash benefits

 

According to the Act of 12 March 2004 on Social Assistance, there are three basic types of cash benefits from social assistance system: permanent benefit, temporary benefit and purpose benefit (together with special purpose benefit).

 

As the rule, cash benefits can be granted to persons and families whose income per capita does not exceed criteria stipulated in the Act on Social Assistance. According to the provisions of art. 8 of the Act, the criterion of income of a person keeping a single household is now stated as PLN 634 and the criterion of income per person in the family - PLN 514.

 

Permanent benefit is granted to persons incapable of working, due to her/his age or disability, provided that her/his income does not exceed the income criterion. The amount of this benefit is stated as the difference between the income criterion and the personal income. The amount of this benefit cannot be lower than PLN 30 per month per person and for single person the amount cannot exceed PLN 604 monthly.

 

Temporary benefit may be granted to persons and families without sufficient income (income lower than legal income criterion), particularly due to prolonged illness, disability, unemployment, and possibility to maintain or acquire the rights to benefits on other social security systems.

The amount of a temporary benefit is stated as up to the difference between the income criterion and the personal income but  for single person it cannot exceed PLN 418 monthly. However  the level of the single benefit cannot be lower than 50% of the difference between the income criterion and the person’s income. The amount of the temporary benefit cannot be lower than PLN 20 by month.

 

Purpose benefit may be granted in particularly justified cases, (e.g. for coverage, in whole or in part, of the costs of purchase of food, medicines and treatment, fuel, clothing, necessary household items, small renovations and repairs). This kind of support may be granted (as special purpose benefit) even to persons or families who fail to meet the income criterion but who need support from social assistance.

• benefits in cash for the maintenance and coverage of expenses connected with the learning of the Polish language,
• the payment of contributions to the health insurance specified in the provisions on the general insurance with the National Health Fund;
• specialised guidance .