We put the good of families, elderly people and persons with disabilities first. We base our help for seniors on two pillars - solid financial support and programmes which are to ensure the activity of elderly people – said Minister Marlena Maląg.

The number of Senior+ Homes and Clubs to be increased

Today, Senior+ facilities are centres of activity of elderly people in many towns. These are places where seniors can make new friends and participate in specially prepared classes and activities.

Today, this year’s edition of the Senior+ programme will be settled – informed the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Social Policy Stanisław Szwed.

Local governments can receive up to PLN 400 thousand for the creation of a Senior+ Home and up to PLN 200 thousand for the creation of a Senior+ Club. This also means the funds for the functioning of already existing facilities.

This year and in the coming years, the amount of subsidies for these purposes is PLN 60 million. According to estimates, more than 90 new Homes and Clubs will be created in 2023. Currently, there are about 1,200 of them, and in 2015 their number was below 100.

Community Self-Help Centres

Deputy Minister Stanisław Szwed also talked about changes in the financing of Community Self-Help Centres for persons with intellectual disabilities.

At the end of 2022, there were 855 such centres in Poland, which were used by 36,216 persons.

We are increasing the co-financing for one participant in Community Self-Help Centres, as we know that this is expected by both persons with intellectual disabilities and their parents and guardians – explained Deputy Minister Szwed.

This year, the amount for the development of a network of support centres for persons with mental disorders is almost PLN 30.5 million.

Higher benefits just before Easter

From 1 March, seniors receive indexed old age and disability pensions. The lowest benefits increased by PLN 250. Minister Maląg stressed that this was a tax-free benefit and only the health contribution was deducted from it. Currently, the minimum old age pension is PLN 1,588.44. Thanks to the indexation, seniors will receive additional PLN 44 billion.

This year, the 13^th and 14^th pensions will also be transferred to seniors’ accounts. Payments of the former will start on 1 April, so some old age pensioners will receive them before Easter. Together with the indexation of old age and disability pensions, this means more than PLN 70 billion for our seniors. During the rule of our predecessors, the support for seniors in 2015 amounted to PLN 3.6 billion – said the minister.