Marlena Maląg told the state PAP news agency that the new measure, known as the Family Welfare Capital, was estimated to cover some 615,000 kids this year.
“It means that for nearly half of these children, the applications have already been submitted,” she added.
The new benefit is available for every child after the first, when they are between 12 and 36 months of age, with each family entitled to a total of PLN 12,000 (some EUR 2,600, USD 2,900) per child.
Parents can claim the allowance either in smaller payments over two years, or in bigger ones over a year. So far, most are choosing the second option, PAP reported.
The family and social policy minister said the take-up figures “are the best proof that the guardians have mastered the procedure and the whole process is going very smoothly.”
Applications for the benefit may be submitted online only, with the payments made directly to the claimant’s bank account, PAP reported.
Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said last month that the Family Welfare Capital was “designed to ease financial burdens for parents and help mothers return to work.”
(pm)
Source: PAP