Child benefit 800+ in Poland: who gets it and how to apply
Short answer: Rodzina 800+ pays 800 zł a month per child under 18 regardless of income, and since 2026 foreign applicants need a PESEL and may need to show work activity.
Rodzina 800+ is Poland's universal child benefit: 800 zloty a month for every child under 18. It does not depend on income or on the number of children, and it is paid by ZUS (the Social Insurance Institution). For foreign families the rules changed in 2026, so this guide separates what is the same for everyone from what applies to non-EU citizens and to Ukrainian citizens with UKR status. Everything below is taken from ZUS and gov.pl pages read on 13 October 2026.
The basics
- Amount: 800 zł per month per child, since 1 January 2024. It is not taxed and cannot be seized by a bailiff.
- Age: until the child turns 18. If the child is born or turns 18 mid-month, ZUS pays for the part of the month only.
- Income test: none. The benefit is paid regardless of family income or the number of children.
- Who can claim: a mother or father, an actual guardian, a legal guardian, a foster parent, and some institution heads, provided the child lives with the claimant and the claimant supports the child.
- Shared custody: if a court has set alternating care in comparable, repeating periods, each parent gets half, which is 400 zł a month.
- Payment: only by bank transfer to the account you give in the application.
Who is not eligible
ZUS lists cases where the benefit is not paid. The child is married, the child is placed in an institution that provides full free upkeep (such as a correctional or military school), an adult child already has the benefit for their own child, or the family receives a similar benefit abroad. The last rule does not apply to benefits from other EU or EFTA states or the UK.
What changed for foreigners in 2026
ZUS says the new rules affect two groups: citizens of non-EU/EFTA countries who are legally in Poland and have access to the labour market, and citizens of Ukraine with UKR status. Citizens of Poland and EU/EFTA states, and UK citizens under the withdrawal agreement, keep the old rules.
For applications filed after 31 January 2026, a PESEL number is mandatory. For Ukrainian citizens with UKR status, ZUS stopped the benefit from 31 January 2026, and it restarts only if all of these hold:
1. The parent or guardian files a new application.
2. The applicant is professionally active in Poland.
3. The child attends school or kindergarten in Poland.
4. The applicant and the child live in Poland.
"Professionally active" has a number: the base for social security contributions must be at least 50 percent of the minimum wage. ZUS counts employees, people on commission or service contracts, self-employed people and a few other insured groups. The work condition does not apply to foreigners claiming for a Polish-citizen child, or raising a disabled child (under 16 with a disability certificate, or over 16 with a moderate or significant degree).
The new form asks for the PESEL of the applicant and the child, border-crossing data, the document that proves legal stay, a statement about work in the month before applying and a statement that the child attends school or kindergarten in Poland.
When to apply
Benefit periods run from 1 June to 31 May. The 2026/2027 period started on 1 June 2026, and applications opened on 1 February 2026. The key dates from gov.pl:
- Apply between 1 February and 30 June and you get the benefit for the whole period, from 1 June.
- Apply after 30 June and the benefit starts from the month you apply, not earlier.
- For a newborn, apply within 3 months of birth to be paid from the day of birth.
Payment deadlines in the same gov.pl Q&A: an application filed by 30 April is paid by 30 June, one filed in May by 31 July, and one filed in June by 31 August, with back payment for June. A late application filed in July is paid from July, by 30 September.
How to apply
Applications are online only, to ZUS, using the form SW-R for parents (SW-O for guardians and foster parents). You can file through PUE/eZUS, the Emp@tia portal, your bank's online banking (the list of participating banks is on the ZUS page) or the mZUS app. ZUS tells you about the decision in your PUE/eZUS inbox, and no administrative decision is issued if the benefit is granted.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the 800+ benefit?
800 zł per month per child, until the child turns 18, regardless of income.
Do I need a PESEL?
Yes, for applications filed after 31 January 2026.
Can non-EU citizens get it?
ZUS says the rules for non-EU citizens who are legally in Poland with access to the labour market changed in 2026, and the work-activity condition applies to many foreign applicants. Check the ZUS page for your case.
When is the deadline?
Apply by 30 June to be paid for the whole benefit period from 1 June. A newborn needs an application within 3 months of birth.
How is it paid?
By bank transfer only.
