In 2024, the number of children covered by household allowance decreased by 236 000 – from over a million to Just 782.8 thousand. This. decrease by more than 23% on a yearly basis. Data published by Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy are clear and alarming: the strategy of assistance to families in Poland passes historic crisis.
Family benefits – erstwhile a pillar of social policy – now become marginal benefits. Experts inform that legislative negligence and deficiency of valorisation of income thresholds made more and more families “for being rich to help”, even though they are actually struggling with financial difficulties.
Frozen thresholds since 2015 – inflation eats benefits
The main reason for the breakdown is Unchanged income thresholds from 2015which are:
- PLN 674 per person family,
- PLN 764if there's a kid with disabilities in the family.
During this time prices of food, energy and services exploded, and inflation has importantly damaged home budgets. Although the nominal incomes of families are increasing, purchasing power is frequently decreasing in real terms. As a result, many families lose their right to support – not due to the fact that their situation has improved, but due to the fact that the rules do not keep up with economical reality.
Gold for gold does not save the system
The government points out that the previously introduced mechanics "gold for gold“ mitigates the effects of failure of benefits. In practice, this solution proved to be insufficient. In 2024, only 70.9 000 children were included, which means that hundreds of thousands of families are inactive losing support No compensation.
According to Prof. Ryszard Szarfenberg from the University of WarsawSuch solutions are only "patch for bleeding woundIt’s okay. ” Expert emphasizes that without real valorisation of both income thresholds and benefits themselvesThe household benefit strategy no longer fulfils its function.
A silent cost-reduction strategy?
In the opinion of many analysts and social organisations, no changes in thresholds may be an informed policy strategy. As he notes Paweł Maczyński from the Federation of Social Workers, maintaining outdated criteria makes the strategy "It's extinguishing itself.” and the government does not gotta make hard decisions or increase spending.
This situation leads to real aid goes to less and less childrenCommon bypassing the most in need. This solution is convenient from a budgetary perspective, but disastrous from the point of view of social policy and the long-term interest of the state.
Uncovered promises – improvement suspended in vacuum
Come on. a improvement of the household benefit strategy was announced in May 2023To this day no draft bill has been submitted. In the meantime The crisis is getting worseand the strategy to prevent the inheritance of povertyHe's losing his occupation more and more.
What was to be a tool supporting families and reducing kid povertyas the statistic indicate, exclusion tool. Poland is approaching a point where household benefits will no longer have any meaning in the structure of social support.
What's next? Urgent intervention needed
Experts agree – unless the government takes immediate legislative action, the strategy of assistance to families will cease to be de factoeven though it will proceed to apply formally. It is essential to:
- valorisation of income thresholds – best linked to average wage or minimum social income,
- Review of the benefits themselves,
- increasing the availability of the "gold for gold" mechanism,
- and Public debate on the function of social policy during increasing inequality.
Lack of consequence will mean further deepening social inequalities and Poverty of full groups of childrenwhich could have long-term consequences for education, wellness and the future of the young generation.
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236 000 children lost their household allowances. The government hasn't changed the income threshold in 10 years.
