Both the media and politicians opposing the introduction of the “Family 500+” programme argued that Polish citizens would certainly waste the money received under the care benefit - they would spend it on their own needs, often on alcohol or other drugs.

- It is not only an expression of contempt for families with children, but also an expression of ignorance of the situation and needs of ordinary people. Until recently, families with many children were the group at the highest risk of poverty - and not at all pathological, as some claimed. Today, after over three years of the programme's operation, poverty no longer has the face of a child and it is one of the greatest successes of the “Family 500+” - comments the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy, Bożena Borys-Szopa.

The statistics gathered by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy confirm that there is not much truth in the narrative presented by the opponents of the Programme.

- In June this year, i.e. before the extension of the Programme to include each child, 1760 benefits were provided in kind or in the form of paying for services. That accounts for 0.047% of all benefits paid. In August 2019, there were 1765 similar benefits, representing 0.026% of all benefits paid. “These are truly marginal cases” - says Minister Bożena Borys-Szopa.

The head of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy explains that the rights to receive the benefit may be revoked due to improper spending of funds. - In the event that the benefit is wasted or spent in violation of its intended purpose, the benefit may be transferred to a benefit in kind or in the form of covering a cost of services - explains the minister.

This means that parents do not receive any money to their bank account, and the equivalent of PLN 500 per child is transferred to them in a different manner.

- Our data clearly shows that the vast majority of Poles, almost all of the persons receiving the benefits, know very well how to use the money. They know their children and their needs. Extra-curricular activities, financing foreign language lessons, saving money for the future of a child, followed by joint holidays and school trips - these are the most common things financed from the extra funds. I have no doubt - Polish citizens use the “500+” wisely - Minister Bożena Borys-Szopa says.