Polish President Karol Nawrocki has signed a bill imposing stricter conditions for Ukrainian refugees to access state benefits, linking eligibility to employment and education requirements. The legislation allows Ukrainians to remain in Poland until at least March 2026 but mandates that at least one parent must be employed and children must attend school to qualify for support.
Benefit restrictions include the monthly “800 plus” zloty child allowance, health programs, prescription drug coverage, and medical services, which will now apply only to Ukrainians working in Poland. Refugees must also demonstrate earnings of at least 50% of the minimum wage, with compliance verified monthly. Exemptions are granted for individuals with disabilities.
The measure aims to end “tourism from Ukraine at the expense of Polish taxpayers,” according to Zbigniew Bogucki, head of the president’s office. Nawrocki plans to introduce two additional bills targeting refugee citizenship rules and criminalizing the promotion of hardline Ukrainian nationalist movements.
The president previously rejected an earlier bill that would have extended existing benefits without changes, arguing only refugees contributing to Poland’s economy should receive support. Over a million Ukrainian refugees have entered Poland since 2022 amid the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.