The Polish Order, presented this May, included a promise to help families combine family life with work in a better manner. What is it about?It is about a completely new additional benefit – Family Care Capital.

- We promised that we would pay for the care of the youngest children. And we kept our word. President Andrzej Duda signed the Act thanks to which Family Care Capital will enter into force as from 1 January 2022. It is even up to PLN 12 thousand for the second and subsequent children, aged between 12 and 36 months – regardless of income – points out the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg.

Parent, you will decide on your own how to spend this money

The benefit will be paid in the amount of PLN 500 per month for two years or PLN 1,000 per month for one year. The choice is up to parents. Parents will also decide on their own how to spend this money - e.g. on a nursery, a nanny or their own care of their child.

In the first year, the support is to be used by about 615 thousand children.

The government will pay for care in the nursery

The Act signed by the President of the Republic of Poland also provides for co-financing for the operation of childcare facilities, which will not be covered by Family Care Capital. This applies to, for example, the first or only children in the family.

The co-financing will amount up to PLN 400 per month for a child in a nursery, children’s club or daily care provider – it will be provided directly to the institution (its amount will not exceed the amount paid by the parents). There will be no income criterion here either.

The solution will apply as from 1 April 2022, but the co-financing will be granted with compensation as from 1 January 2022. This form of support will cover about 110 thousand children.

PLN 1.5 billion for the “Toddler+” programme

Expenditures on the “Toddler+” programme will also be increased, i.e. support for the development of a network of childcare facilities for children below 3 all over the country – both in large centres and in smaller towns.

Today, the programme’s budget is PLN 450 million a year, after amendments it will be as much as PLN 1.5 billion a year.