What Changes to the Special Act on Assistance for Ukrainian Refugees Is the Polish Government Planning?

On 26 March, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration Maciej Duszczyk answered many questions of concern to Ukrainians during the conference "The Housing Situation of Ukrainian Refugees in Poland".

According to the Deputy Minister, the government will simplify the system for obtaining residence permits (karty pobytu), abolish the "40 złoty per day" programme, and introduce a partial payment for accommodation in temporary housing centres for people receiving benefits under the "Family 800+" programme. We cover the details below.

Poland Plans to Simplify the Process of Obtaining Residence Permits for Ukrainians with PESEL UKR

One of the most welcome pieces of news for many Ukrainians holding a PESEL UKR is the possibility of obtaining a temporary residence permit (karta pobytu).

What is the government proposing?

A new, automated system has been developed under which all Ukrainians who arrived in Poland after the start of the full-scale invasion will be able to obtain a residence permit – workers, retirees, students, and minors alike. Such individuals will have a choice: remain under temporary protection with their PESEL UKR or obtain a residence permit.

Another welcome development: these temporary residence permits will be issued NOT by voivodeship offices, where queues are already enormous. The issuance of residence permits will be handled by dedicated bodies.

What needs to be done to obtain a temporary residence permit under the new system?

From 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2025, applicants must register on a newly created electronic portal. They will then need to visit the city or municipal office and submit the required documents. It is worth noting that applicants for a residence permit will be vetted by the Internal Security Agency, the Border Guard, and the Police.

The first temporary residence permits will be issued in 2025 and will be valid for 3 years.

It should be noted that, according to the Deputy Minister, temporary protection for Ukrainians is expected to be extended until March or even September 2025.

The "40 Złoty Per Day" Programme Will Be Abolished

Under the current special act on assistance to Ukrainians, individuals who have provided free accommodation to refugees in their own homes may claim a subsidy of 40 złoty per person per day. This support is available to households hosting up to ten people.

The government plans to discontinue this programme in three months' time – from 1 July 2024.

As Deputy Minister Maciej Duszczyk explained, the government wanted to reform this programme but could not find an adequate way to do so. The authorities documented highly problematic cases and abuses – for example, landlords confiscating refugees' passports and forcing them to work for free under threat of being reported to the Police or deported. The Deputy Minister stated that the government intends to fund Ukrainian accommodation exclusively in places that have signed agreements with voivodes and are subject to state oversight.

At the same time, according to Duszczyk, should an urgent need arise, the government will return to financing the stay of refugees in private homes.

Changes for People Living in Temporary Housing Centres

According to government data, nearly 40,000 Ukrainians – or 4.2% of the total refugee population – currently live in such temporary housing centres. These centres are state-controlled and have signed agreements with voivodes.

The government will continue to fund accommodation there, as many of the residents genuinely require state support. However, some centres will be closed down, as demand for them is declining – there are already around 20,000 vacant places in facilities of this type. Residents of the centres being closed will be relocated to larger facilities.

At the same time, individuals who receive social assistance under the "Family 800+" programme and are living in these centres will be required to contribute partially to the cost of their accommodation. The Deputy Minister explained it this way: "If we have a boarding house where a family or a mother with two children lives, with free accommodation and meals provided, then some contribution from the '800 plus' benefit should go into this system."

Finally, it is worth noting that the Deputy Minister himself acknowledged that the government's plans may still change in some of their details.

The speech by Deputy Minister Maciej Duszczyk can be viewed here.