Care allowance for a healthy child Poland: school closed, under 8
Short answer: Poland's zasiłek opiekuńczy can cover a healthy child under 8 when a nursery or school closes unexpectedly or a carer falls ill. It pays 80% of the base, up to 60 days a year, shared by both parents.
Poland's care allowance (zasiłek opiekuńczy) is not only for sick children. It can also cover days when you must stay home with a healthy child under 8, for example when the nursery or school closes without notice. This guide summarises the official gov.pl service page for care of a healthy child. The page shows a last update of 8 September 2022, so confirm the current rules with ZUS or your payer before relying on them.
When you can get it
According to the gov.pl page, the allowance can be paid when you cannot work because you must care for a healthy child under 8, or a disabled child under 18. You must be the child's parent, adoptive parent, foster parent or legal guardian, or a person who raises and supports the child although it is not your own. You must also have sickness insurance, as an employee, a contractor on a services contract, a business owner or in one of the other insured groups the page lists.
The page names these situations for a child under 8:
- The nursery, children's club, kindergarten or school is closed unexpectedly, for example because of a breakdown. The closure counts as unexpected when you learn of it less than 7 days beforehand.
- A nanny with an activating contract, or a daily carer, falls ill.
- A sanitary inspector suspects the child carries an infectious disease and orders isolation.
- Your spouse or the child's other parent, who looked after the child so far, is ill or in hospital.
- The mother cannot care for the child because of childbirth.
For a disabled child under 18, the page lists two situations: your spouse or the child's other parent who cared for the child is ill or in hospital, or the mother cannot care for the child because of childbirth.
The page also says you do not get the allowance if other family members living with you can look after the child.
What counts as a disabled child
The page defines this as a child with a certificate of significant disability, or a disability certificate that also states a need for permanent or long-term care because of a significantly limited ability to live independently, and a need for the carer's daily involvement in treatment, rehabilitation and education.
How much it pays
80% of the benefit base. For an employee the base is average gross monthly pay over the previous 12 months, minus the social insurance contributions the employee pays. For others it is average monthly income over the same period, reduced by 13.71%. The page says ZUS or the payer calculates the exact amount, so any figure you work out is an estimate.
How many days
- Up to 60 days per calendar year for a child up to 8 years old.
- Up to 30 days per calendar year for a disabled child aged 8 to 18.
The page stresses that all care allowances for children and other family members share a limit of 60 days a year. This is a joint limit for the father and mother, and it does not grow with the number of children. With two children under 8, you get 60 days in total, not 120.
An extra entitlement around birth
The page describes a separate additional allowance. The child's father or another family member can receive care allowance if the mother is receiving maternity allowance and, within 8 weeks after birth, she needs hospital care, has a certificate of inability to live independently or a significant disability certificate and cannot care for the child, or has abandoned the child. This allowance can run for up to 56 calendar days, and not past the day the child turns 8 weeks old. It does not count toward the other limits and is not tied to the calendar year.
Documents
The list begins with claim form Z-15A. After that, the proof depends on the reason:
- For an unexpected closure, a ZAS-36 statement or your own written statement explaining why you stay home.
- For suspected infection, the sanitary inspector's isolation decision.
- For the illness, hospital stay or childbirth of the other parent, a medical certificate issued to you on an ordinary form, for example ZAS-38.
- For a sick nanny or daily carer, a copy of their e-ZLA or medical certificate marked as a true copy, plus the ZAS-36 or your own statement.
- For a disabled child, the disability certificate described above.
- A payer certificate if ZUS pays: Z-3 for employees, Z-3b for business owners and clergy, Z-3a in other cases.
- An identity document if you file in person.
Where and when to file
File right away when you have the documents. You can claim for a past period within 6 months of the last day covered. The page gives an example: care from 1 to 8 July means filing by 8 January of the next year. If an illness or similar reason stopped you, you have 6 months from the day it ended.
File with your payer if it employs more than 20 people, with the payer or the ZUS branch if it employs up to 20, or at the ZUS branch if you run a non-agricultural business, cooperate with one or are clergy. Payment is due within 30 calendar days of filing everything. You can appeal a ZUS decision to the labour and social insurance court through the ZUS branch within one month, free of charge.
What the page does not say
The page does not address foreigners separately and gives no zloty amounts. Ask ZUS or your payer how your contract and insurance status apply.
* Photos: Kindergarten, Stolarska Street, Tomaszów Mazowiecki (CC0) and Closed western gate of Naebo Elementary School (CC0), both from Wikimedia Commons; the second is an illustrative photo from outside Poland.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get care allowance if my child's school closes suddenly?
According to the gov.pl page, yes, for a child under 8, if you learn of the closure less than 7 days beforehand. You need claim form Z-15A and a ZAS-36 or your own written statement.
How many days can I receive it?
Up to 60 days a year for a child up to 8, and up to 30 days for a disabled child aged 8 to 18. All care allowances share a 60-day yearly limit, shared by both parents.
How much is it?
80% of the benefit base. ZUS or your payer calculates the exact amount.
Is there extra help right after birth?
The page describes an additional allowance of up to 56 days for the father or another family member in specific situations affecting the mother within 8 weeks after birth.
