The number of children who have been covered by government support programmes in recent years is impressive – 6.5 million children under the “Family 500+” programme, 4.4 million children under the “Good Start” programme, and 3.6 million active Large Family Cards.

– In the context of the demographic challenges faced by not only Poland, but, as a rule, by all developed countries, the family-oriented policy should be an absolute priority for the government. The support for families is an investment in the future of subsequent generations, in the future of all of us. We understand that, therefore, from the very beginning, we have consistently placed the family in the centre of our activities. The situation did not change in the year 2021, which is coming to an end – says the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg.

Family Care Capital

One of the key elements of the Polish Order announced in May 2021, where the family is in the spotlight, is family care capital. This is a new benefit granted for the second and subsequent children in a family from the month in which a child turns 12 months old until the end of the month in which a child turns 35 months old. This is even PLN 12 thousand, paid in the amount of PLN 500 a month for 2 years or PLN 1,000 a month for one year. Importantly, there will be no income criterion here, and the benefit will not be taxed.

This solution will come into force as from 1 January 2022. Applications for the benefit can be submitted online only – via the Empatia portal of the Ministry of Family and Social Policy, PUE ZUS or electronic banking. The Social Insurance Institution will be involved in granting and paying the benefit.

The government will pay for the stay of a child in a nursery

The government did not forget about children who are not covered by family care capital, e.g. the first and the only children in families or children who are younger or older than assumed by the criterion. The Act provides for covering them by the co-financing to the stay in a nursery, a children’s club and a daily care provider. The co-financing will amount up to PLN 400 a month, however, not more than a parent pays for the care. For example, if the fee paid by a parent amounts to PLN 300 a month, the co-financing will also amount to PLN 300.

– Similarly as the benefit under family care capital, the co-financing for the stay of children in nurseries or children’s clubs is to make it easier for parents of young children to return to work – stresses Minister Marlena Maląg.

The co-financing will be launched as from 1 April 2022 – then, it will be possible to submit an application (in the same way as for family care capital). What is important, the co-financing will be granted with compensation as from 1 January 2022. The funds will go directly to the care facility.

PIT-0 for 4+ Families

The PIT-0 for the 4+ Families is for all parents, no matter if they work full time, or are self-employed, raise their children together or are single parents. The programme will cover parents who have at least 4 children.

It is estimated that more than 110 thousand parents-taxpayers will make use of it, while about PLN 335 million will be left annually in the pockets of such families. PIT-0 for the 4+ Families will enter into force as from 1 January 2022.

Demographic strategy for the coming years

– The year 2021 is also a presentation of the draft Demographic Strategy 2040. It is the first comprehensive document in Poland to address the unfavourable trends in the area of demography. Its strategic objective is to get out of the trap of low fertility and to approach the fertility rate guaranteeing the generational replacement – indicates the Head of the Ministry of Family.

The draft strategy has been developed pursuant to a thorough analysis of factors having an impact on fertility in Poland based on data and knowledge from more than 650 sources from Poland and abroad, including scientific articles, reports and opinion polls. As a result, 10 areas with the strongest impact on the decision to have children have been identified. The authors propose 12 areas of intervention under 3 specific objectives.

The public consultation on the draft Demographic Strategy ended at the end of September 2021.

Changes in the “Good Start” programme

The year 2021 means not only new solutions but also a change in the existing ones. These are, inter alia, the solutions aimed at improving the handling and payment of benefits under the “Good Start” programme. This is PLN 300 for school supplies for every school child (up to 20 years of age and 24 years in the case of children with disabilities), granted once a year regardless of income.

Benefits are now granted and paid by the Social Insurance Institution, and applications can be submitted electronically via the Empatia portal, PUE ZUS or electronic banking. The funds are paid in the non-cash form to the indicated bank account.

5th anniversary of “Family 500+”

If we are talking about support which is already being provided to families, we cannot forget about the “Family 500+” programme, which celebrated its 5^th anniversary on 1 April 2021.

– Throughout this period, many things have happened and the lives of many families have really changed for the better. The recent years have shown that investing in the family pays off to everyone. We have proven that “impossible” is possible. From the start of the programme until the end of 2021, nearly PLN 175 billion of support was provided to families. This shows the scale of this investment in the future of the next generation – says Minister Marlena Maląg.

As from 2022, changes will be made to the “Family 500+” programme – just like for the “Good Start” programme, the Social Insurance Institution will handle the programme, and applications will be submitted electronically only and payments will be sent directly to the bank accounts.

More modern Large Family Card

On the other hand, mid-year brought about significant changes in the functioning of the Large Family Card. Since 9 June 2021, it can be displayed in the mObywatel app. The app allows to redirect users to the Empatia portal where they can find a map of partners, including locations and discount descriptions. The programme currently has 9.3 thousand partners, and in 31 thousand places card holders can receive discounts.

We met “Pro familia self-governments”

In 2021, we also met the winners of the first edition of the “Pro-Familia Self-Government” competition. The objective was to recognise the family-oriented activities carried out by local authorities, to share good examples and to promote family-oriented practices. 236 communes applied for the participation, presented their achievements and shared their plans for the future.

Through the competition, the Ministry of Family wants to inspire self-governments to take initiatives for all families. As the first edition of the competition was successful, it will be continued.

Good time for families

The year 2021 was definitely the year dedicated to families. This is best evidenced by the solutions implemented within the framework of the Polish Order. But this is not all.

– We are focused on the family because the family means the future. This is the best investment that will undoubtedly bring fruit in the coming years. We cannot get off this path, the experience of recent years has shown that we chose a good course. The last year is also a good example of it – assesses the Minister of Family, Marlena Maląg.