Caregiver's Benefit Poland 2026: 3,386 zł, Who Qualifies
Short answer: As of 2026 the caregiver's benefit (świadczenie pielęgnacyjne) is 3,386 zł a month, paid regardless of income to carers of disabled children under 18; some foreigners qualify.
The caregiver's benefit (świadczenie pielęgnacyjne) is one of the larger family payments in Poland. As of 1 January 2026 it is 3,386 zł a month, and it does not depend on household income. This guide covers who can get it, whether foreigners qualify, what to prepare and how the application works, based on the official Gov.pl service page and the ministry notice on the 2026 amount.
What the benefit is
The benefit is paid to a person who looks after a disabled child under 18. It is aimed at carers who cannot take a normal job because of that care, but since 1 January 2024 the law no longer blocks it for people who work, run a farm or receive a pension. The official page says you can get it even if you are professionally active.
The amount is set each year. According to the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, a notice published in Monitor Polski on 29 October 2025 (M.P. 2025 item 1127) set the 2026 amount at 3,386 zł per month from 1 January 2026. The Gov.pl page says the amount rises every 1 January by the percentage increase of the minimum wage.
If you care for more than one disabled person under 18, the benefit is increased by 100% for the second and each further person. The official example is three disabled children: 10,158 zł a month in 2026 (3,386 zł three times).
When you can get it
The person you care for must be under 18 and have one of these:
- a disability certificate with indications of permanent or long-term care or help from another person, because of a significantly limited ability to live independently, or of the carer's permanent participation in treatment, rehabilitation and education
- a certificate of a significant degree of disability
The certificate is issued by the disability assessment body, for example the county team for disability assessment. A certificate equivalent to the significant degree can also be issued by ZUS or KRUS.
If the certificate expires, you do not automatically lose the right. The official page says you keep it if you apply for a new certificate no later than 3 months after the old one expires, and then apply for the benefit within 3 months of the date the new certificate is issued.
People who obtained the benefit before 31 December 2023 can keep it on the old terms until the end of the period it was granted for.
Who can apply
According to the Gov.pl page, the benefit can go to:
- the mother or father of the disabled child, or other people with a maintenance obligation towards the child, for example a grandmother or sibling
- a de facto guardian, meaning a person who looks after the child and has applied to adopt them
- the spouse of the disabled person, if the disability arose before the person turned 18
- a foster family
- a person running a family children's home, or the director of a care and education institution, if they care for the disabled child
Can foreigners get it
The right applies to Polish citizens living in Poland and to certain foreigners who live in Poland. The official page lists:
- citizens of the EU, EEA, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom (for UK citizens, if they arrived in Poland before 1 January 2021)
- citizens of other countries who have, for example, a temporary residence permit for work in a highly qualified profession, or a document that entitles them to stay and work in Poland
- Ukrainian citizens with UKR status, who are under temporary protection because of the armed conflict and live in Poland with the disabled family member
The page also lists a residence card among the documents to prepare if you are a foreigner. Because the list says "for example", ask your local office whether your particular residence document counts before you rely on it.
When you cannot get it
The page says you cannot get the benefit if:
- you already receive another care benefit, for example the special care allowance, a caregiver's allowance or the caregiver's benefit itself
- the person you care for is in a social care home, a care and treatment facility, a nursing facility, a 24-hour care facility, a prison, a correctional facility, a detention centre or a juvenile shelter
- the person receives a similar benefit for care costs abroad, or another person receives such a benefit for them, unless the rules say otherwise
- another person already has a special care allowance, caregiver's benefit or caregiver's allowance for the person you want to care for
What to prepare
- your details and the details of the person you care for
- the PESEL numbers of both of you
- a bank account number, if you want the money paid to an account
- details of other family members, including the other parent, if they live in another EU or EFTA state or in the UK
- the residence card, if you are a foreigner
- depending on the situation, adoption or foster care documents
The office may ask for additional documents.
How to apply
1. Use the "Złóż wniosek" button on the Gov.pl service page. It takes you to the Emp@tia portal. 2. Log in with a trusted profile (profil zaufany) or a qualified electronic signature. 3. Choose the application for the caregiver's benefit. 4. Fill it in and attach scans or photos of any documents. 5. Send it and wait for the answer in your Emp@tia mailbox.
The application is decided by the authority for your place of residence, most often the city or municipal office or the social welfare centre. The system shows you where to file. If a family member lives in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK, the municipality passes the application to the voivode, who decides it; the municipality still pays out the money.
Timing and payment
You can apply at any time. The benefit is paid from the month you apply. If you apply within 3 months of the date the disability certificate was issued, it is paid from the month you applied for the certificate.
The office should decide within one month, or two months if the case is complicated and it asks for more documents. An incomplete application is returned for correction, and if you do not fix it the application is not examined.
The money goes to the bank account you give in the application, or by postal order. It is granted for the validity period of the disability certificate, but no longer than until the person turns 18.
If the office refuses, you can appeal to the local government appeal board within 14 days of receiving the decision. Filing the appeal is free.
* Photos: Caregiver Childrens School (Wikimedia Commons, CC0); Jr Ranger child with caregiver (Wikimedia Commons, public domain). Both are illustrative and not from Poland.
Frequently asked questions
Does household income matter for the caregiver's benefit?
No. The Gov.pl page says the amount is 3,386 zł a month regardless of income, as of 2026.
Can I work and still receive it?
Yes. The official page says that since 1 January 2024 the right applies even if you are professionally active, run a farm or receive a pension.
Can I apply if I am not a Polish citizen?
Possibly. The page lists EU, EEA, Swiss and eligible UK citizens, holders of certain residence and work documents, and Ukrainians with UKR status living with the disabled family member. Confirm your document with the office that handles your case.
How long does the office take to decide?
One month, or two months for complicated cases, according to the Gov.pl page.
