Social assistance in Poland: how to apply, income limits 1,010 zł
Short answer: Poland's pomoc społeczna helps people in hardship with cash, meals, shelter and care. Apply free at your municipality's social assistance centre. Cash help needs income up to 1,010 zł alone or 823 zł per person. Some foreigners are covered.
If you live in Poland and fall into hardship, social assistance (pomoc społeczna) can help with money, food, shelter or care, and some residents who are foreigners are covered. This guide summarises the official gov.pl service page "Skorzystaj z pomocy społecznej" (last updated 19 December 2025) and the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy page on the criteria. Amounts can change, so confirm them with your local social assistance centre.
Who can use it
According to the gov.pl page, social assistance is available to:
- Polish citizens who live and stay in Poland.
- Foreigners who live and stay in Poland and hold a permit to settle, or are long-term EU residents, or live in Poland as refugees, under subsidiary protection or with a tolerated stay permit.
- Citizens of EU and EFTA states who live and stay in Poland, and their family members who have a right of residence or permanent residence.
If you are a foreigner on another type of permit, the page does not say whether you qualify. Ask the social assistance centre.
What problems it covers
The page lists these situations, among others: poverty, orphanhood, homelessness, unemployment, disability, long-term or serious illness, domestic violence, human trafficking, motherhood or having many children, helplessness in running a household, alcoholism or drug addiction, and a random event or crisis such as a fire, local flood or accident. It also lists difficulty integrating for foreigners with refugee status, subsidiary protection or a temporary residence permit tied to specific circumstances in the law on foreigners.
Where and how to apply
Apply to the social assistance centre (ośrodek pomocy społecznej) in your municipality, in person or by post. The page says that a legal representative, or another person with your consent, can also apply for you, and the centre can grant help on its own initiative if you agree. Applying is free.
Tell the social worker about your situation. The page lists what to bring:
- An ID document, such as an ID card or passport.
- A child's birth certificate or health booklet, if relevant.
- Documents showing income: pension or benefit decisions, or a certificate or statement of pay if you work on an employment, mandate, specific-task or agency contract.
- Disability or health documents, if relevant.
- A statement of your assets.
- Documents that determine your status, if you are a foreigner.
- Anything else the social worker asks for.
The page says that if you do not provide the required documents or statements, you do not get the benefit.
The home interview
The social worker carries out a family community interview (rodzinny wywiad środowiskowy) where you live or stay. The page says it is necessary and that without it you do not get help. It should happen within 14 working days of your application, or within 2 days in particularly urgent cases. The worker collects your income documents, checks whether relatives who should help can do so, and checks whether you are entitled to other social security benefits. If the worker finds domestic violence, a Blue Card form is filled in and attached.
How long it takes
Your case should be settled without undue delay, within 1 month of the application, or within 2 months if it is exceptionally complicated. You get a written decision from the centre.
Cash help: the income criteria
According to the page, you get cash help if you are in one of the situations above and also meet the income criteria:
- A person living alone: income up to 1,010 zł.
- A person in a family: income per person up to 823 zł.
- A family: income not above the sum of the per-person amounts.
The Ministry page says these criteria have applied since 1 January 2025 under a government regulation of 12 July 2024. Income means the total income of all family members in a month. You report the income from the month before you apply. If you have no income because you lost a job or a benefit, you report the income from the month you apply. The page says income is reduced by income tax and costs of earning it, health and social insurance contributions, and alimony you pay. It also lists things that are not counted, such as a one-off social benefit, a purpose allowance for items like food or medicine, in-kind benefits, and the 800+ child benefit.
Forms of cash help
The page lists:
- Permanent allowance (zasiłek stały).
- Periodic allowance (zasiłek okresowy).
- Purpose allowance (zasiłek celowy), for example for food, medicine, fuel or clothing.
- Special purpose allowance for people above the income criteria, for example for medicine.
- Allowance and loan for economic independence.
- Help with independence and continuing education.
- A cash benefit for living costs and Polish language learning for foreigners with refugee status, subsidiary protection or a temporary residence permit.
Non-cash help
Examples on the page include social work, payment of social and health insurance contributions, a meal, shelter, necessary clothing, care services at home, crisis intervention, funeral, specialist counselling and a place in a social care home.
If you disagree
You can appeal to the local government appeals board (samorządowe kolegium odwoławcze) through the centre that issued the decision, within 14 days of receiving it.
What the page does not say
The page does not give amounts for each allowance, which the social worker explains. Income limits are set by regulation and may be revised.
* Photos: Capital Area Food Bank, 2016 (public domain, USDA, Wikimedia Commons), used as illustrative images only. They show a food bank in the United States, not Poland.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner get social assistance in Poland?
According to gov.pl, yes for some groups, including EU and EFTA citizens, long-term EU residents, people with a settlement permit, and refugees or people under subsidiary protection. Ask the centre about other permits.
What is the income limit for cash help?
1,010 zł for a person living alone and 823 zł per person in a family, in force since 1 January 2025 according to the Ministry page.
Where do I apply?
At the social assistance centre of your municipality, in person or by post. Applying is free.
How long does it take?
Up to 1 month, or 2 months in complicated cases. A home interview comes first.
