Care Allowance in Poland: 60 Days for a Sick Child or Closure
Short answer: Insured parents can get up to 60 days of zasiłek opiekuńczy a year, shared between both parents, at 80% of the calculation base, when a young child is sick or a nursery or school closes.
When your child is sick, or the nursery, kindergarten or school closes without warning, you may be able to stay home and receive a care allowance (zasiłek opiekuńczy) from ZUS instead of your salary. This guide sets out who qualifies, how many days you get and how much it pays, based on ZUS and government pages. Facts are as of 15 October 2026. The calculation of the exact amount is done by ZUS or your employer, so use this as a guide, not as a quote.
How many days you can get
According to ZUS, the allowance is paid for no longer than:
- 60 days per calendar year if you care for a healthy child up to 8 years old or a sick child up to 14 years old, including a disabled child of that age;
- 14 days per calendar year if you care for a child over 14 or another sick family member;
- 30 days per calendar year if you care for a sick disabled child aged 14 to 17, or for a disabled child aged 8 to 17 when the other parent cannot look after the child because of childbirth, illness or a hospital stay.
The total across all reasons cannot exceed 60 days per calendar year. The Ministry of Family says the limit is shared by both parents and does not depend on the number of children. With two children under 8 you still get 60 days in total, not 120.
* Photos: "Rozdanie świadectw - 1990 rok SP nr 46 w Warszawie" and "Children in kindergarten school playing", Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
When you qualify
The Ministry of Family and Social Policy lists the situations in which the allowance is paid to an insured person who must personally care for a child up to 8, for example:
- an unexpected closure of a nursery, children's club, kindergarten or school the child attends;
- illness of a nanny or day carer under a contract with the parents.
The allowance is for insured people only, and the Ministry says it is paid only if there is no other family member who can look after the child or sick relative. This rule does not apply to a sick child under 2.
There is a separate entitlement of up to 8 weeks for the father or another insured family member when the mother needs hospital care after birth. That period does not count towards the 60-day limit.
How much it pays
The allowance is 80% of the calculation base, according to the government service page and ZUS. For an employee, the base is the average gross monthly pay of the last 12 months before the month in which the need for care arose, minus the employee's share of social security contributions. For people who are not employees, the base is the average monthly income over the last 12 months minus 13.71% of it. A shorter insurance period uses the full calendar months of insurance. Self-employed people have special rules, which ZUS explains separately.
The Sosnowiec employment office explains (page dated 2 July 2026) that the allowance is paid for each day of care, including days that are statutory days off work. The base comes from the gross amount, while the payment is made after income tax advance and contributions, so the amount you receive is net. For full-time employees the base cannot be lower than the minimum wage minus 13.71% of it, according to ZUS.
How to apply
The Sosnowiec page says the application is made on form Z-15B, available on ZUS's electronic services platform (PUE/eZUS). A medical certificate (e-ZLA) is attached where it is required, along with a statement of who will care for the child. The government service page says ZUS or the employer (the contribution payer) calculates the amount. Check the exact documents on the ZUS site for your case, as they depend on the reason for care.
Practical tips for expat parents
1. Check that you are covered by sickness insurance. The allowance is only for insured people. 2. Plan the shared 60 days with the other parent. 3. For a sick child, ask the doctor for an e-ZLA certificate for the carer. 4. For nursery or school closures, keep the notice from the institution.
See our guides on sick leave and on leave and benefits for new parents.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of care allowance can I get in Poland?
Up to 60 days a year for a child up to 8, or a sick child up to 14. For other relatives or older children the limit is 14 days, and the total is 60 days.
How much is the allowance?
80% of the calculation base, which is based on average earnings from the last 12 months. ZUS or the employer calculates it.
Can both parents use the allowance?
Yes, but the 60 days are shared between both parents for the calendar year.
What if the kindergarten is closed unexpectedly?
The allowance can be paid for children up to 8 when a nursery, kindergarten or school is unexpectedly closed, according to the Ministry of Family.
