A Belarusian spent a year seeking child benefit in Poland and received 9,600 zł after complaining to a court

Denis (name changed) has lived in Poland with his family since 2021: he arrived under the Poland Business Harbour visa programme, opened a sole proprietorship and received a temporary residence permit. The child benefit was then 500 zł a month, and there were no problems. In 2024 the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) demanded for the first time that he confirm his access to the Polish labour market, but the residence permit decision contained no such information.

In 2025 the man got a job and applied again, when the benefit already stood at 800 zł a month. ZUS again demanded proof and a month later rejected the application. He appealed against the refusal, but there was no reply for six months; Denis then filed a complaint about inaction with the Voivodeship Administrative Court. Two weeks later ZUS issued a favourable decision: the benefit was granted for the entire waiting period, from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026. Another two weeks later, 9.6 thousand zł arrived.

In 2026 Denis applied for the benefit again. The requirements for foreigners were tightened: the parent must be an active participant in the labour market, and a school-age child must attend a Polish school. According to Denis, he meets these conditions. ZUS has not yet replied, and the man has filed a new complaint about inaction.