On 20 April, President Andrzej Duda signed the Act amending the Act on anti-communist opposition activists and persons persecuted for political reasons and certain other acts.

– Any amendment extending the catalogue of rights of this group, the heroes of our freedom, any increase in the budget allocated for this purpose, every new aid programme developed and implemented by the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression for these people is the achievement of the current government and a step in the right direction – said the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg.

The fact that today we can live in a free and democratic country is a great achievement of those who were not afraid of devotion and repression when fighting against the communist regime.

At the end of June, the amendment entered into force. What does this mean in practice?

It means, inter alia, an increase in the thresholds giving the right to assistance, so that a wider group of anti-communist opposition activists and persons persecuted for political reasons will be able to exercise the right to financial assistance – one-off or periodical. In addition, it will be possible to grant one-off financial assistance even twice a year (so far, it has been once a year).

For example – as regards financial assistance – in the case of a single person applying for assistance, instead of the existing income threshold not exceeding 220% of the lowest pension, i.e. PLN 2,751.94, the income threshold not exceeding 290% of the lowest pension, currently the amount of PLN 3,627.55, has been set. This means that the threshold is increased by PLN 875.61.

It is also, inter alia, granting the right to 5 days of additional holiday leave and recognising the period in which these persons were deprived of a possibility to work before 31 July 1990 due to political persecution as a contribution period.

Compensatory benefit for more people

Until recently, the right to the compensatory benefit has been granted to anti-communist opposition activists and persons persecuted for political reasons receiving a pension or disability pension or incapacity benefit. Thanks to the amendment to the Act, this law will be extended to include anti-communist opposition activists and persons persecuted for political reasons, who receive a survivor’s pension.

Due to the mechanism of this year’s revaluation, the compensatory benefit is payable in the amount accounting for the difference between the amount of PLN 2,501.76 and the amount of received pension or disability pension.

Taking care of the health of the heroes

Even previously, persons with the confirmed status of an anti-communist opposition activist or persons persecuted for political reasons have the right, inter alia, to receive healthcare benefits and pharmaceutical services provided in pharmacies on a priority basis, as well as specialist outpatient benefits without medical referral. It is also, for example, the right of priority to community social care, including obtaining a place at a nursing home.