Rapid and effective assistance

The Minister for Family, Labour and Social Policy recommended the simplification of the application process for emergency relief, which will be provided on a “one-stop shop” basis. In particular, one may request:

• non-repayable emergency relief of PLN 10,000, including PLN 8,000 in social assistance and up to PLN 2,000 in flood benefit,
• PLN 200,000 for the rehabilitation of lots and housing units,
• PLN 100,000 for the renovation of farm buildings.

The financial support provided in connection with the floods will not be taken into account when determining the income thresholds entitling persons affected by the floods to receive other benefits.

Additional PLN 2,000 for social workers

In areas affected by natural disaster, social assistance and social workers play a particularly important role. The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy has prepared legislation that will allow social workers from across the country to be delegated to support flood victims. This will reduce the burden on local governments and speed up the payment of benefits to flood victims.

In addition, social workers who carry out family community interviews during floods, including social workers delegated to carry out these duties, are entitled to a one-time allowance of PLN 2,000.

Supporting workers in flooded areas

• Workers directly affected by the natural disaster who are struggling to recover from the floods can benefit from a dedicated fully paid leave for 20 days. The Guaranteed Employee Benefits Fund will partially cover the costs of the leave.
• Double duration of leave on demand – this solution is dedicated to residents of flooded areas who are still recovering from the impact of the flood.
• Leave may be used on an hourly basis. This solution will allow numerous employees to allocate their time on both work and flood recovery efforts.
• An employee who decides to keep working may rest assured that the employer will not send them on a business trip or make them work overtime.
• Simplification (for the duration of the state of natural disaster) of procedures concerning periodic medical examinations and OHS and extension of the time limit to appeal to the labour court in case of dismissal.

Assistance to employers in flooded areas

An employer who has maintained employment in spite of the fact that their workplace has been partially destroyed may claim reimbursement for the costs of maintaining current jobs. Applications may be submitted at labour offices. Should the employer fail to pay contributions on time due to the flood, penalties and interest will not apply. If a job created has been destroyed, the employer may apply for a waiver of the previous refund for equipping a workstation or supplementing a workstation equipment. The corresponding application must be submitted to the labour office by 31.12.2024.

An unemployed person whose grant funds to start a business has been waived due to the loss of a job as a result of flooding will have the right to reapply for the said funds.

Under the new legislation, employers can be reimbursed by the labour office for hiring unemployed persons referred to work. A corresponding application to this effect should be submitted to the labour office. The benefit is aimed at employers who maintained employment after the flood, even though their workplace had been partially destroyed. The payback period is up to 12 months.

Employment support for persons with disabilities

Funds to safeguard employment for persons with disabilities, restore the adapted infrastructure, purchase the equipment, remedy the damage to infrastructure and subsidy loans are distributed by the State Fund for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons.

The subjective protection of flood victims has been extended. Occupational therapy workshops, establishments of professional activity or enterprises run by persons with disabilities will be given an opportunity to request the restoration of post-disaster infrastructure. In the case of destruction of documentation needed to determine the award of benefits for persons with disabilities, the new legislation also allow other documents to be taken into account to confirm the disability or degree of disability and the need for support.

What else was included in the special purpose act?

• One-time emergency benefit: the guardian of a child learning on a full-time basis may, in order to meet the child's educational needs, apply for a so-called education allowance of PLN 1,000, regardless of income.
• Supplementary care allowance: if the nursery, school or other educational institution attended by a child or person with disabilities (irrespective of age) was destroyed, out of order or undergoing renovation or reconstruction, carers will be awarded additional leave for the duration of the closure. During this period, they will receive 80% of their remuneration.
• •Extended time limits to perform actions in judicial proceedings, as the access to courts is obstructed during the state of natural disaster.

Detailed information on social assistance for flood victims is available at https://www.gov.pl/web/rodzina/pomoc-po-powodzi. The MRPiPS helpline on (22) 22 245 61 01 is also available to residents of flooded areas.