Zasiłek Pielęgnacyjny 2026: 215.84 zł Nursing Allowance, Who Gets It
Short answer: Zasiłek pielęgnacyjny is 215.84 zl a month. It goes to children with a disability, people over 16 with a significant disability decision, and anyone aged 75 or over.
Poland has several care-related cash benefits, and they are easy to confuse. The one with the simplest rules is the nursing allowance, in Polish zasiłek pielęgnacyjny. It is a flat monthly payment meant to partly cover the cost of care and help from another person. This guide explains the amount, who qualifies, who does not, and how it differs from the much larger świadczenie pielęgnacyjne. It is based on the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy page and the consolidated text of the family benefits act (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1240, version in force from 23 September 2026).
How much is the nursing allowance in 2026?
The ministry's gov.pl page states that the allowance is 215.84 zł per month. The statute (art. 16 ust. 4 of the family benefits act) gives the same figure. A municipal social assistance centre page on gov.pl says the amount has been 215.84 zł since 1 November 2019, so it has not changed for several years. As of 16 October 2026, both the ministry page and the consolidated act show 215.84 zł.
The purpose, in the words of the act, is to partly cover expenses resulting from the need to provide care and help from another person because the person cannot live independently. It is a contribution, not a full replacement of care costs.
Who is entitled?
Under art. 16 ust. 2 and 3 of the act, the allowance goes to:
- a child with a disability;
- a person with a disability over 16 who holds a decision confirming a significant degree of disability (znaczny stopień niepełnosprawności);
- a person with a disability over 16 who holds a decision confirming a moderate degree of disability (umiarkowany stopień), but only if the disability arose before the age of 21;
- a person who has turned 75.
The ministry page does not mention an income test for this allowance, and neither does the text of art. 16. The list above is based on a disability decision or age, not on household income.
When it is not paid
The ministry page and art. 16 list these exclusions:
- the person is entitled to a dodatek pielęgnacyjny (the nursing supplement paid with a pension or disability pension);
- the person is placed in an institution that provides round-the-clock maintenance free of charge;
- a family member receives a care-related benefit abroad for the same person, unless EU social security coordination rules or a bilateral social security agreement say otherwise.
The last point matters for expats. If a family in Poland also receives a care benefit from another country for the same person, the allowance can be refused. Whether the coordination rules change the result depends on the countries involved, so ask the office handling the case.
Art. 16 ust. 7 also covers an overlap: if a person is later granted a dodatek pielęgnacyjny for a period for which the nursing allowance was already paid, the pension body deducts the amount and passes it to the office that paid it. The act treats that transfer as a refund of benefits paid in error.
The larger benefit: świadczenie pielęgnacyjne
A separate benefit is aimed at carers who give up work. A municipal social assistance centre page on gov.pl states that from 1 January 2026 the świadczenie pielęgnacyjne is 3,386.00 zł per month, and that granting it does not depend on an income criterion. It is paid to a carer who does not take up or gives up employment or other paid work to look after a person with the required disability decision. Eligible carers include a mother or father, an actual guardian of the child, a related foster carer, and other people with a maintenance duty under the Family and Guardianship Code, with an exception for people who themselves have a significant disability.
If someone is entitled to more than one of several listed benefits at once (the parental benefit, the świadczenie pielęgnacyjne, the special care allowance, the supplement for care during childcare leave, or the carer allowance), only one of them is paid, and the person chooses which. The nursing allowance is a different benefit from these and is paid to the person needing care, not to the carer.
Check the current amount of the świadczenie pielęgnacyjne with your municipality before you count on it, because the figure above comes from a local office page rather than from the act.
How to apply
The ministry page says a sample application form (wzór wniosku) for the nursing allowance is available on the ministry's public information bulletin (BIP). The pages we reviewed do not spell out the filing steps, deadlines or the list of documents, so do not rely on this article for those. In practice, ask the social assistance centre or the municipal office where you live which form and documents it wants, and ask how long the decision takes.
Bring the disability decision (or proof of age 75) and an ID document. If you hold a foreign decision or foreign benefits, take the paperwork and ask whether it affects your case, since the coordination rule above can apply.
Practical points for foreign residents
- The act names no nationality requirement in art. 16, but eligibility for family benefits in general can depend on your residence status. Confirm this with the office before applying.
- Keep copies of every document and the date you filed.
- If a decision is refused, the written decision explains how to appeal. Read it closely, because appeal deadlines are printed there.
Official sources (see the list below the article) show the rules as of 16 October 2026. Benefit amounts and conditions are set by law and can change, so check the ministry page or your municipal office before you apply.
* Photos: Wheelchair loading system in a van (CC0) and an elderly couple eating (CC0), both Wikimedia Commons, illustrative.
Frequently asked questions
How much is zasiłek pielęgnacyjny in 2026?
215.84 zł per month according to the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy page and art. 16 ust. 4 of the family benefits act, as of 16 October 2026.
Is the nursing allowance income-tested?
The ministry page and the text of art. 16 do not set an income limit. Entitlement depends on age or a disability decision, plus the exclusions listed in the act.
Can I get it if I am over 75?
Yes. Art. 16 ust. 2 lists a person who has turned 75 among those entitled, subject to the exclusions such as an entitlement to dodatek pielęgnacyjny.
