Will Ukrainians in Poland Receive Benefits in 2024?

Recently, Ukrainian media circulated a statement by Polish government spokesperson Piotr Müller. It was reportedly suggesting that next year Ukrainians in Poland would lose the benefits granted by their host country.

What exactly did Müller say, and is Poland truly sending clear signals about ending its support for Ukrainians? Read on.

Benefits to Be Cancelled? What Actually Happened

On September 19, Bloomberg published an article titled Poland Signals It Will Stop Aid for Ukrainian Refugees Next Year. Most Ukrainian outlets are referencing this piece. The article stated that the government had announced a likely reduction in financial support for millions of Ukrainian refugees hosted by Poland. According to the publication, this could further strain ties between the neighbours, which have already become tense due to grain imports.

It was also suggested that while the Warsaw government is one of Ukraine's most ardent supporters — providing financial and military aid and serving as a gateway for Western supplies — relations between the two countries are deteriorating ahead of Poland's October elections.

As the publication reports, government spokesperson Piotr Müller told Polsat television that support for refugees would not be extended into the next year. This support includes the lifting of residence and work permit requirements, free access to schools, medical treatment, and family payments.

"These regulations simply expire next year," Müller was quoted as saying. "I think these provisions will not be extended to any significant degree."

In essence, what is being discussed at this stage is the absence of a government decision to extend benefits for Ukrainians. Of course, the situation may change in the near term — for example, after the parliamentary elections. The Sejm elections are scheduled for 15 October 2023.

It is worth noting that according to Deputy Minister of Family and Social Policy Anna Schmidt, as of May 2023, Poland had spent approximately 2.4 billion zloty ($550 million) on assistance to Ukrainian families who fled the war to Poland. Meanwhile, economists forecast that working Ukrainians in Poland will contribute around 6 billion zloty to the state budget.

Gremi Personal will continue to keep you informed about Polish government decisions and to provide objective information about life for Ukrainians in Poland.

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