Changes in the regulations regarding the child benefit “500 plus”. Since July 1, you can submit an electronic (and from August 1 in paper form ) application for “500 plus” program for the first child without the condition of meeting the income criterion (until now you could only get the benefit if your income per person in your family did not exceeded 800 PLN or 1200 PLN in case of a child with disabilities).

Let us remind you that foreigners living in Poland with their family members may also apply for the benefit if, in accordance with “Ustawa o pomocy państwa w wychowywaniu dzieci z dnia 11 lutego 2016 roku” (Dz.U. z 2016 r. poz. 195):
– the provisions on the coordination of social security systems apply to them,
– it results from bilateral international agreements on social security that is binding in Poland,
– a foreigner stays in Poland on the basis of a temporary residence permit issued for the purpose of performing work in a highly skilled job,
– a foreigner has a residence card with a note “access to the labor market”, with the exception of those who have received a work permit in the territory of a Member State (except for the purpose of: study or seasonal work, with a work permit valid for a period shorter than 6 months, and also if a foreigner is entitled to work on the basis of a visa)
– a foreigner stays in Poland on the basis of a temporary residence permit for the purpose of performing work within the framework of an intra-corporate transfer or long-term mobility or from the mobility of a short-term executive employee, specialist or employee undergoing internships (all of the conditions included in the Act)
– a foreigner lives in Poland with family members, unless they have been granted a residence and work permit for a period not exceeding nine months (exception: when provisions on the coordination of social security systems or bilateral international agreements on social security state otherwise)
– a foreigner stays in Poland on the basis of a temporary residence permit for the purpose of conducting scientific research or a temporary residence permit for the long-term mobility, foreigners holding a national visa for conducting research or development (using short-term mobility of a researcher, with the exception of: temporary residence permit for a period not exceeding 6 months unless the provisions on the coordination of social security systems or bilateral international agreements on social security specify it differently).
The right to the child benefit “500 plus” is granted to the aforementioned persons if they reside in Poland for the period of receiving the benefit (unless the provisions on the coordination of social security systems or bilateral international agreements on social security state otherwise).