The new benefit period of the 800 plus program starts on June 1, 2026. Although most parents will receive the full amount, some guardians will only see PLN 400 in their account. This is important because from 2027 there will be a fundamental change in the entire Family 800 plus program implemented by ZUS.
Changes in the 800 plus program affect hundreds of thousands of families in Poland. First of all, the new rules are intended to simplify formalities and better adapt support to various family situations. For some existing beneficiaries, however, they may mean that they will receive incomplete benefits from ZUS.
800 plus 2027. Who will lose ZUS benefits after the changes?
As Dziennik.pl reminds, so far, failure to submit an application for 800 plus on time resulted in delayed payments or even loss of benefits for a given period. Many parents forgot about the formalities, which resulted in them losing money and not being able to count on compensation after providing the necessary documents.
From 2027, ZUS intends to automate the processing of applications. Applications for 800 plus must be submitted every year, preferably by April 30, to maintain continuity of payments. Submitting an application in May or June meant a slight delay, but the money was paid with compensation. After June 30, the benefit was payable only from the month of submitting the application, which meant a real financial loss.
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The changes being implemented in the aid system are a response to the demands of actual caregivers and challenges related to the processing of benefits by ZUS. As Dziennik.pl explains, the reduced amount – only PLN 400 instead of PLN 800 – applies to parents after separation who have court-ordered alternate custody.
In such a case, the mother and father receive PLN 400 each month, after submitting separate applications to ZUS. This solution is intended to ensure a fair distribution of benefits.
The government is preparing a revolution in 800 plus. Some families may be left without money
From 2027, automatic renewal of 800 plus is planned. The application will only need to be submitted once – after the birth of the child. If the family's situation does not change, ZUS will extend the payments itself, and parents will only have to report changes in data.
In the face of these changes, some beneficiaries – who will be ordered to take care of their children alternately – will automatically receive only part of the benefit.
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It is also worth remembering that 800 plus is available for each child up to the age of 18, regardless of the guardian's income. However, from June 2026, there is one exception, which applies to refugees from Ukraine.
According to the new regulations, they can only receive childcare benefits for children who attend a Polish school or the so-called zero grades. This condition does not have to be met by younger children who are not yet subject to compulsory education.
