“The ‘Family 500+’ project will now be the subject of inter-ministerial arrangements. After 20 days, the project will go to public consultation, which will end on 21 January. We are waiting for every opinion on this issue,” Prime Minister Beata Szydło began the conference.

The schedule of work on the project indicated that it is to be launched in April 2016.

“2.7 million Polish families and almost 4 million children will benefit from the support,” said Elżbieta Rafalska, Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy.

Minister Rafalska pointed out that the child benefit of 500 PLN is not an allowance. “We want families to leave the social assistance system.”

Payment of the benefits will be made in a way that is convenient for everyone. This means that families will not have to queue up to make a request or to collect money. Minister Rafalska reminded that the income criterion of PLN 800 (PLN 1200 in case of a child with a disability) will be taken into consideration only when applying for benefit for the first child. There will be no need to submit an income statement for second and subsequent child.

“No one will lose on the ‘Family 500+’ programme. We will not indicate what the money is to be spent on. We want to build the autonomy of Polish families,” Minister Rafalska added.