Persons entitled to receive social assistance – in addition to persons with Polish citizenship – are also foreigners who have their place of residence and stay in Poland, inter alia:

• on the basis of a permanent residence permit,
• on the basis of a residence permit for a long-term resident of the European Union,
• in connection with obtaining a refugee status or subsidiary protection in the Republic of Poland.

Therefore, foreigners can use social assistance benefits only after completing the procedure of legalisation of stay, i.e. obtaining a refugee status or subsidiary protection.

Integration assistance

Foreigners who obtained a refugee status or subsidiary protection in Poland can make use of assistance provided for up to 12 months as part of the so-called individual integration programme (IPI) aimed at supporting the process of their integration.

The assistance is granted in the form of:

• cash benefits*:

- to cover the costs of living, in particular, costs of food, clothing, footwear, personal hygiene products and housing charges, and

- to cover the costs related to learning Polish;

• paying a health insurance contribution;
• social work;
• specialist counselling, including legal, psychological and family counselling
• providing information and support in contact with other institutions;
• other activities supporting the process of integration of a foreigner.

Important! The assistance under the individual integration programme is provided on the basis of an application submitted to the starost, through the district family assistance centre, within 60 days from the date on which a foreigner receives a refugee status or subsidiary protection.

Foreigners entitled to benefit from social assistance, if they are in a difficult life situation and meet the criteria for being covered by support on the part of social assistance institutions, may make use of cash and non-cash social assistance benefits on general conditions, just like Polish citizens.

The right to receive cash benefits from social assistance is determined by comparing the income of a person or family with the relevant income criterion. As from 1 October 2018, for a single person, the income criterion is the income not exceeding PLN 701, for a person in the family – PLN 528.

As from 1 January 2022, for a single person, the income criterion will be the income not exceeding PLN 776, for a person in the family – PLN 600.

• Temporary allowance is granted in particular because of long-term illness, disability, unemployment, the possibility of maintaining or acquiring rights to benefits from other social security systems.

The temporary allowance is determined up to the amount of a difference between the income criterion of a single person and the income of that person (provided that the amount of the allowance may not be higher than the amount of the income criterion per person in the family), and in the case of a family – up to the amount of a difference between the income criterion of the family and the income of this family. The amount of the allowance may not be lower than 50% of a difference between the above-mentioned criteria and income in relation to single persons (currently – PLN 350.50) or families (currently – PLN 264). In addition, the amount of the temporary allowance may not be lower than PLN 20. The period for which the temporary allowance is granted is determined by a social assistance centre on the basis of the circumstances of the case.

• Earmarked allowance is optional and is granted to meet a necessary living need, which may be, in particular, covering the part or all of the costs of purchasing, for example, food, medicines and treatment, fuel, clothing, necessary household items, minor renovations and repairs in the flat, as well as the costs of funeral.

The amount of the earmarked allowance is determined individually by a social assistance centre, taking into account, inter alia, the financial and family situation of the applicant and the financial capacity of a municipality.

Eligible foreigners may also make use of various forms of non-cash social assistance, including social work, specialist counselling, crisis intervention, shelter, meal, care services provided at the place of residence or in support centres, dwelling protected, stay and services in a social assistance house.

Food aid

Food aid may be granted, inter alia, under the “Meal at school and at home” programme – in the form of a meal, a cash benefit for the purchase of a meal or food, or a benefit in kind in the form of food products.

Aid may be applied for by persons and families in a difficult life situation, whose income generally does not exceed 150% of the income criterion, i.e.:

• PLN 1,051.50 for a single person
• PLN 792 for a person in the family.

Persons in a difficult life situation can also apply for support from the Food Aid Operational Programme 2014-2020.

Under this programme, aid (in the form of food parcels or meals, distributed by non-governmental organisations or social assistance centres) may be received by persons and families whose income does not exceed 220% of the income criterion entitling them to make use of social assistance, i.e.:

• PLN 1,542.20 for a single person
• PLN 1,161.60 for a person in the family.

In the case of this programme, OPS does not issue a decision, but only qualifies persons to receive support from partner organisations, by issuing referrals and providing lists of qualified persons to partner organisations.

Centres for Integration of Foreigners

In the long term, foreigners will be able to use an offer going beyond the benefits of social assistance as part of the Centres for Integration of Foreigners.

The Ministry of Family and Social Policy implements the project “Building structures for the integration of foreigners in Poland – stage II – pilot run of Centres for Integration of Foreigners” – a project under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). The objective is the pilot creation of two Centres for the Integration of Foreigners in partnership with voivodeship self-governments.

Integration activities carried out in the Centres will be addressed to third-country nationals in the field of integration with Polish society through:

• advice regarding the labour market,
• learning Polish,
• cultural assistance (e.g. assistance in enrolling children in school),
• specialist advice (e.g. psychological, legal).