New rules for obtaining the "800+" child benefit for Ukrainians residing in Poland under the UKR special status will take effect on February 1, 2026. The changes will impact approximately 150,000 individuals staying in the country due to the hostilities in Ukraine.

As reported by Hvylya, this information was published on the Rzeczpospolita website.

The innovations result from a law signed by President Karol Nawrocki in September 2025. Under the new requirements, benefit payments for this category of recipients will be suspended on January 31, 2026. To maintain eligibility, a new application must be submitted for the 2025/2026 period.

Requirements for Recipients

A key condition will be proof of employment or economic activity. Verification will be conducted based on social security system data; in most cases, no additional documents will be required.

Qualifying activities include:

  • Employment under a labor contract or civil law agreement

  • Running a business

  • Receiving sports or doctoral scholarships

  • Receiving unemployment benefits or participating in training programs

For certain types of employment, minimum thresholds for pension insurance contributions have been set—ranging from 30% to 50% of the minimum wage, depending on the activity type. Parents of children with disabilities and individuals applying for a child who is a Polish citizen are exempt from this requirement.

Additional Conditions

The benefit will be paid only if the following conditions are met:

  • The child attends a preschool or school in Poland

  • Both the child and the applicant reside within the country

The Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) warns that payments may be suspended if doubts arise regarding residence in Poland, the parent's employment activity, or the child's school attendance. Inspections will be conducted monthly.

Expansion of Requirements

Starting June 1, 2026, similar rules will be extended to citizens of other non-EU and non-EFTA countries who are legally residing in Poland with access to the labor market. These changes will not affect citizens of Poland, EU member states, EFTA countries, or the United Kingdom.