2019-06-24 12:21 update: 2019-06-24, 21:40
Mateusz Morawiecki. Photo PAP/Jakub Kamiński
The government's landmark 'Family 500 Plus' child allowance programme will be extended from July 1 to also include first-born and only children, with applications accepted in electronic form from that date and non-electronically from August 1.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki inaugurated a 'Family 500 Plus' information campaign on Monday. The campaign is intended to enable all qualifying families to claim the benefit from the date of the change. He also encouraged families to claim the benefit electronically.
Currently, the 'Family 500 Plus' programme grants PLN 500 (EUR 117.5) a month for second and subsequent children. From July 1, it will apply to all children under 18.
"Family 500 Plus is the best investment in the future of our nation; we are convinced that it will be a very important stimulus to improve education, for a better life," Morawiecki said, going on to describe the programme as a "revolutionary socio-demographic project that we are proud of."
In the PM's view, the funds distributed under the 'Family 500 Plus' programme are "a policy for the whole of life, until the age of maturity is achieved."
"This PLN 6,000 (EUR 1,410) a year is support for every type of need, such as buying clothes, cinema tickets for the whole family or some favourite shoes, sports clothes for the children," the PM said. "Those are small, minor matters for some but I am convinced that for millions of Polish families they are essential matters."
The prime minister noted that currently about 3 million children in Poland do not receive support under the '500 Plus' programme. "We want to grant such support from the state to every child without exception," he said.
"It is necessary to submit an application," he added, "We are a modern, digital state. I encourage as many people as possible to submit those applications electronically. Then very quickly, from the start of July, it will be possible to take advantage of those funds for the start of the holidays." (PAP)
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