Becikowe in Poland: 1,000 zl Birth Grant, Limits and Deadline
Short answer: Becikowe is a one-time 1,000 zl grant per child. Income per person must not exceed 1,922 zl net, and you must apply within 12 months of the birth.
If a child is born to you in Poland, the state pays a one-time birth grant of 1,000 zł, known as "becikowe" (officially jednorazowa zapomoga z tytułu urodzenia się dziecka). It is not for everyone: it depends on family income, on prenatal medical care, and for foreigners on the type of residence. This guide summarises the official rules from two government pages: the gov.pl service page "Uzyskaj becikowe" (undated, read on 16 October 2026) and the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy page on the grant (dated 14 November 2018). Check the current figures with your local office before you apply, because income limits and rules are reviewed from time to time.
How much and who gets it
The grant is 1,000 zł per child, paid once. The Ministry page says it is paid for each live birth and that it is free of income tax, like other family benefits. It can go to:
- the mother or father of the child;
- the child's legal guardian, meaning a person the court has given care of the child;
- a de facto guardian, meaning a person who took over care of the child and applied to the court to adopt the child.
Conditions
The gov.pl page lists these conditions.
- Income: income per person in your family must not exceed 1,922 zł net a month. The Ministry page gives the same figure and says the amount and the grant are reviewed every 3 years.
- Prenatal care: the child's mother must have been under medical care from at least the 10th week of pregnancy until the birth. A doctor or a midwife issues a certificate on the form set by a Ministry of Health regulation of 14 September 2010. Legal guardians, de facto guardians and adoptive parents do not need this certificate.
- Single parents: if you raise the child alone, you can receive the grant only if maintenance has been set for the child from the other parent by a court or a settlement approved by a court. There are exceptions: the other parent has died, the father is unknown, the court rejected the maintenance claim, the court obliged only one parent to support the child, or the court ordered alternating care by both parents.
The Ministry page adds that the grant is not paid if a family member is entitled to a birth benefit abroad, unless EU social security coordination rules or bilateral agreements say otherwise.
What about foreigners
The gov.pl page lists the foreigners who can claim the grant, if they live in Poland:
- citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, and citizens of the United Kingdom who arrived in Poland before 1 January 2021;
- citizens of other countries who hold, for example, a temporary residence permit linked to work in a profession requiring high qualifications, or another document that entitles them to stay and work in Poland;
- Ukrainian citizens with UKR status who are under temporary protection and live in Poland with the child.
If you are a foreigner, attach the document that entitles you to stay and work in Poland, for example your residence card.
How to apply
- Fill in the application online. The gov.pl page sends you to the Emp@tia portal, where you sign in with a trusted profile (profil zaufany) or a qualified signature.
- Have ready your details and the child's, the details of the family members, your PESEL numbers, income data if needed, an email address and the bank account number for the payment.
- Add the prenatal care certificate and any other documents the office needs.
- The application goes to the office for your place of residence, usually the city or commune office or the social welfare centre. It checks the form, assesses the conditions including income, and issues an administrative decision.
Deadline and timing
Apply within 12 months of the child's birth. The page gives an example: a child born on 1 April 2026 means a deadline of 1 April 2027. An application filed late is not examined and you do not get the grant. For guardians and adoptive parents, the 12 months run from the day you take over care of the child or adopt the child. If your application has errors or gaps, the office calls on you to fix them, and if you do not, it is not examined.
The decision should come within 1 month, or 2 months in particularly complicated cases. The money arrives by bank transfer or postal order.
If the office says no
You can appeal to the local government appeal board (samorządowe kolegium odwoławcze) within 14 days of receiving the decision. The appeal is free. File it with the office that issued the refusal, in person or by post, preferably by registered mail with proof of posting.
Other help to check
Some communes and cities grant their own one-off help if their councils have approved it. Ask your local office. If family income is under 674 zł net per person (764 zł if there is a child with a disability), the gov.pl page says you may also get a family allowance and the childbirth supplement. The 800+ child benefit is a separate programme.
* Photos: Newborn baby sleeping in a basket (CC0) and baby feet close-up (CC0), both Wikimedia Commons; illustrative.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the becikowe birth grant in Poland?
1,000 zł per child, paid once, according to gov.pl and the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy.
What is the income limit for the becikowe?
Income per person in the family must not exceed 1,922 zł net a month, according to both official pages. Check the current figure with your office.
Can foreigners get the becikowe?
Some can. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, certain residence permit holders with the right to stay and work in Poland, and Ukrainians with UKR status under temporary protection are listed on gov.pl.
What is the deadline to apply for the becikowe?
12 months from the child's birth. A late application is not examined.
