The proposal was posted on Tuesday on the website of the Government Legislation Center.
The initiative follows President Karol Nawrocki’s decision in late August to veto a previous amendment that would have prolonged protections for Ukrainians. He argued that child benefits should go only to those working in Poland.
The new draft law aims to combine the European Union’s requirement to extend temporary protection with stricter safeguards on welfare access.
Under the plan, foreigners from outside the European Union would receive the child benefit known as “800 plus” only if the applicant is active on the job market and if the children attend school in Poland.
The ministry said that the rules would apply only to the parent filing the application, not to the employment status of the second parent.
The statement added that benefits should not be the sole source of income, since foreigners living legally in Poland are expected to have means to support themselves.
The draft law also covers the school-starter allowance called "Good Start." For foreigners, eligibility would depend on either employment or being covered by health insurance.
In addition, Poland’s Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) would verify monthly through the Border Guard’s database whether recipients legally reside in the country.
The bill includes other measures. It would make personal appearance mandatory when applying for a national identity number known as PESEL, except in the case of children born in Poland, to confirm that applicants actually live in the country.
It also foresees stricter checks on residency documents, including the use of fingerprints for identification.
Another section implements a June 2024 European Union Council decision that prolongs temporary protection for Ukrainians displaced by the war until March 4, 2026.
This would extend the legality of their stay in Poland, their access to the labor market, and the use of collective housing facilities until October 2025. It also prolongs the validity of residence permits, visas, and identity documents for Ukrainians, while keeping some extraordinary wartime measures in place.
The draft further proposes maintaining tax exemptions for Ukrainian citizens until the end of 2026. These include relief on humanitarian aid and exemption from income tax on certain donations and benefits.
At the same time, it outlines tougher rules to prevent abuse, such as stricter grounds for revoking temporary residence permits when false documents or fraudulent marriages are discovered.
Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Duszczyk announced completion of the draft late on Monday on the social media platform X, saying the law would help “avoid chaos after September 30.”
The ministry’s spokesperson Karolina Gałecka told Poland's PAP news agency that the government is expected to review the proposal before the end of September.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP