There is a proposal for higher eligibility thresholds for social assistance. The act is due for modernization

The Act on Social Assistance has been in force for 20 years. The anniversary of its entry into force may be a reason for a discussion on what social assistance should look like – especially since some of the regulations no longer correspond to reality.

Act on social assistance

Michał Syska, spokesman for the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, admitted that the ministry's management wants to introduce a mandatory annual update of the income criteria entitling to aid. – Detailed proposals for changes will be developed by an expert team – the spokesman said on Monday.

The team is already being formed and will include representatives of non-governmental organizations, Social Welfare Centers and Social Service Centers.

Currently, the update is mandatory every three years.

– The regulations allow us to do it more often, but as the example of the previous government shows, even record inflation did not encourage people to take advantage of this opportunity. That is why the current authorities of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy want to introduce a mandatory annual update of the criteria, explained Michał Syska.

Higher income thresholds for receiving aid

The Council of Ministers sent a proposal to the Council for Social Dialogue to raise income thresholds by 30%. (PLN 234) for a single person and by 37 percent (223 PLN) for a person in the family.

– In both cases, this is an increase that exceeds the inflation rate for 2022-2024 (planned inflation between January 2022 and December 2024 will amount to 29.06%). The change in the amounts of the income criteria will also result in an increase in the amounts of cash benefits related to the Social Assistance Act, e.g.: cash assistance for becoming independent – an increase of PLN 229 (from PLN 1,837 to PLN 2,066), maximum permanent benefit – an increase of PLN 229 ( from PLN 1,000 to PLN 1,229) – said the ministry's spokesman.