During the 48th session of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg recapitulated the achievements of the Law and Justice government, the United Right, in the field of social and family policy. She also outlined current activities in this area.

PLN 62 billion for parents this year

Minister Maląg stressed that it is efficient management of the public finance system which allowed to find funds for many programmes for which there was no money before 2015.

– The COVID-19 epidemic has not slowed down the implementation of these programmes – said the minister.– Not only have we maintained them, but we are constantly developing them, by enriching them with new instruments. They have become a kind of anti-crisis shields, supporting those who, without state intervention, would most likely not be able to manage on their own, just like, e.g., some seniors or families with children.

Minister Maląg presented specific amounts. Only this year, PLN 62 billion will be allocated for such government programmes as „Family 500 plus”, „Good Start”, „Toddler Plus” and Family Care Capital. – In total, in 2022 we will allocate PLN 112 billion for the social policy – summed up the Minister.

More than PLN 176 billion already paid from the „Family 500 plus” programme

The „Family 500 plus” programme has changed the face of Polish families. Since the beginning of its functioning, i.e. since 1 April 2016, parents have received more than PLN 176 billion. This benefit is received by 6.5 million children. – As opposed to some opinions, it does not result in the decreasing number of women in the labour market – argued Minister Maląg. In the third quarter of 2021, the employment rate of women was 71.4%. Its increase is higher than the average in other EU countries.

The budget of the „Good Start” programme, which financially helps in starting the school year, amounted to more than PLN 5.3 billion in the years 2016-2021. It was used by 4.4 million students. – This year, we will allocate PLN 1.35 billion for this purpose – added Minister Maląg.

Through the “Toddler Plus” programme, we invested more than PLN 2 billion in developing a network of childcare places for children below three. Today, there are more than 211 thousand such places, while six years ago there were only 84 thousand of them.

RKO and subsidies for nurseries

One way to get out of the trap of low fertility is to make it easier for parents to reconcile raising children with work. This is served by Family Care Capital introduced as from 1 January. It means PLN 12 thousand, which parents can receive by taking PLN 500 a month for two years, or PLN 1 thousand for a year. – More than 440 thousand applications have already been received, we expect that this year their number will be about 615 thousand – said Minister Maląg. She informed that the majority of parents – 87% – had chosen the one-year period of receiving the benefit.

For children who do not qualify for being covered by RKO, there will be subsidies to a nursery, children’s club or nanny, in the amount of PLN 400 a month. – We will start paying them from 1 April, with compensation from the beginning of the year – declared the Minister.

Minister Marlena Maląg also pointed to the fact that the transfer of benefits to be handled by ZUS streamlines and shortens the process of applying for them and brings significant financial savings.

Summing up the Sejm speech, Minister Maląg mentioned the support provided to seniors, including the indexation of old age and disability pension benefits and the 13th and 14th pensions, as well as the activities for the benefit of parents of children with disabilities. – The budget of the „For Life” programme has been increased to PLN 6 billion – stressed the Minister.

Support for persons with disabilities

– We are now allocating PLN 32 billion to support persons with disabilities and their families, while in 2015 they received less than PLN 15 billion – said the Secretary of State, Stanisław Szwed, in the Sejm. The budget of the new „Independence – Activity – Mobility!” programme amounts to PLN 1 billion.

As part of the assistant to a disabled person programme, PLN 510 million will be provided to self-governments, and PLN 100 million to public benefit organisations.

More than 770 thousand dependent people use the support in the amount of PLN 500. Self-governments can outsource activities to public benefit organisations so as to help them.

Demographic problems

Deputy Minister Szwed also explained the issues of demography. – In 2015, when the Law and Justice, United Right started its rule, the fertility rate was 1.29, i.e. 129 children were born per 100 women giving birth. Now, this rate is 1.4, i.e., per every 100 women 140 children are born, so the rate increases.

Birth statistics are a separate matter. Currently, we have a decrease in the childbirth rate, there are fewer mothers giving birth to children, so, despite the increase in the fertility rate, there are fewer children.

– The entire demographic strategy that we are preparing at the Ministry of Family and Social Policy is aimed at increasing this rate to at least 1.8. Then, the chance for generational replacement will be higher – explained Deputy Minister Szwed. – We believe that the support for families is the most important thing, it is the Polish raison d’etat.