The regulations for Ukrainians have been extended, and the system has been tightened. The law also applies to doctors.

• The Sejm passed a law tightening the system of receiving family benefits by foreigners, primarily from Ukraine.
• The new regulations provide for linking the right to benefits, including "800 plus" and "Good Start", with activity on the labor market and children's education in a Polish school, with exceptions for people with disabilities, for example.
• Restrictions will also be introduced on the possibility of using healthcare services by adult citizens of Ukraine.
• The existing regulations regarding the legality of stay of Ukrainian citizens who fled the war will be extended until March 4, 2026.

227 MPs voted for the bill, 194 were against and seven abstained.

Earlier, MPs voted to move the bill to a third reading without returning it to committee and voted against the motion by the Confederation of the Polish Crown parliamentary group to reject the bill in its entirety. They also rejected amendments and minority motions submitted by the opposition.

The PiS parliamentary group's proposals, including tightening penalties for people illegally crossing the border, introducing penalties for promoting Banderite ideology, extending the minimum period of uninterrupted residence in Poland required for recognizing a foreigner as a Polish citizen from 3 to 10 years, and limiting the ability of Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego to take out loans and credits for the Aid Fund, did not receive support.

The MPs also rejected the minority motions submitted by Klaudia Jachira (KO), who wanted, among other things, to link the 800 plus benefit to the professional activity of not only foreigners living in Poland, but also Polish citizens.

The amendment of the Razem group, which restored the conditions for the payment of benefits to the state from the previous draft law, also did not receive support.

The draft bill amending certain acts to verify the eligibility for family benefits for foreigners and on the conditions for assistance to Ukrainian citizens in connection with the armed conflict in that country was developed after President Karol Nawrocki announced at the end of August that he had not signed the amendment to the act on assistance to Ukrainian citizens. He justified his decision, among other things, by stating that the 800+ benefit should only be available to Ukrainians working in Poland.

The regulation tightens the system for receiving family benefits for foreigners. Eligibility for these benefits will be linked to professional activity and children's education in a Polish school, with exceptions for individuals with disabilities, for example. Furthermore, eligibility for benefits will be tied to foreigners earning at least 50% of the minimum wage, which means that in 2025, this will be PLN 2,333 gross.

ZUS will verify monthly whether foreigners have been economically active. If a foreigner was not active in a given month, the benefit will be suspended and the transfer will not be sent. ZUS will also verify in the register of the Chief Commander of the Border Guard whether the foreigner has left Poland.

To better identify foreigners applying for benefits and their children, a PESEL number will be required. When assigning a PESEL number, the children's residence in Poland will also be verified.

Restrictions on treatment options in Poland

The new regulations also provide for the integration of databases of various institutions, which will allow for more effective monitoring of foreigners' entitlements and eliminate attempts to fraudulently obtain benefits.

Restrictions will also be introduced on the access to healthcare services for adult Ukrainian citizens, including health programs, medical rehabilitation, dental treatment, and drug programs.

The bill also includes changes to the Act on the Medical and Dental Professions. These changes address the procedure for recognizing the right to practice medicine for Ukrainian citizens and other individuals who obtained qualifications outside the European Union. The medical self-government is protesting against their introduction.

According to the law, the current regulations regarding the legality of stay of Ukrainian citizens who fled the war will be extended until March 4, 2026.

The new solutions are to enter into force generally on the day following their publication in the Journal of Laws.

The bill will now go to the Senate.

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