The extension of the “Family 500+” programme constitutes one of the points of the so-called New Five.

Currently, the benefit is granted on the second and next child. The benefit is paid on the first child only upon fulfilling the income criteria – PLN 800 net monthly per person in a family, or PLN 1,200 net in a family with a child with disabilities.

After extending the programme, the 500 plus benefit will be vested in all children up to the age of 18 years, without any criteria. The right to the benefit will be also vested in children placed in educational-care centres.

It will be possible to submit applications for granting the benefit in compliance with the new principles, that is, without the income criterion in two forms: in an electronic version – as of 1 July 2019, and in a paper version – as of 1 August 2019.

In case of submitting an application in the period between July and September 2019, the benefit will be granted with compensation since 1 July 2019. Submitting an application after 30 September 2019 will mean granting the benefit since the month of submitting the application, that is, without a compensation for previous months, i.e. July and August.

The amended act introduces a three month period, counted as of the child’s date of birth, to submit an application for the child-care benefit on the newly born child. Submitting an application in this period of time will result in granting this benefit with a compensation as of the child’s date of birth. Currently, the benefit is granted as of the month in which the application has been submitted.

The bill will also enable granting, with continuity, the child-support benefit to the other parent of the child in case of a death of the parent who has been granted the benefit for the given period or who died before consideration of the submitted application. Currently, in such a situation the other parent has to submit an application for the benefit.