[Poland] Additional childcare allowance extended

The additional allowance for parents to care for their child in the event of closure of a nursery, kindergarten, school or similar facility has been extended by another 14 days.

Additional childcare allowance – who is entitled to it and under what conditions

On 1st April 2020 the anti-crisis package entered into force. One of the changes adopted concerns the childcare allowance which, started on 26th March 2020:

• shall be extended by another 14 days,
• shall be granted to parents whose child is looked after by a nanny or a day carer (activation agreement concluded).

The extension of the period for payment the additional childcare allowance by another two weeks concerns a parent insured with ZUS who takes care of a child under 8 years of age unable to attend a nursery, kindergarten or school due to the closure of these facilities in connection with a coronavirus pandemic. An additional benefit is also granted to parents who, due to COVID-19, cannot take care of a child under 8 years of age, but have concluded an activation agreement with a nanny or day carer.

The childcare allowance has not been extended to parents of children up to 12 years old.

The additional childcare allowance is granted on the basis of a childcare declaration submitted to the employer.  

If an employee has already made such a declaration, it is not necessary to make it again. The payment period will be automatically extended by another 14 days.

The self-employed make a declaration directly to ZUS.

Moreover, the additional childcare allowance does not count into 60 days of the general childcare allowance to be granted in a given calendar year.

IMPORTANT: The additional extended childcare allowance is granted jointly to both parents, regardless of the number of children, but does not apply if one parent remains unemployed or takes parental leave.

Coronavirus – childcare allowance for parents of disabled children

The changes introduced in connection with the coronavirus also provide for the granting, as of 26 March 2020, of an additional childcare allowance to insured with ZUS parents of disabled children:

• up to 16 years old – a disability certificate,
• up to 18 years old – a certificate of major or moderate disability, who have a decision on the need for special education,
• and insured parents or guardians of disabled adults released from the obligation to work because of the need to provide care for such a person, in the event of closure, due to a pandemic, of a school, remedial centre, support centre, occupational therapy workshop and day-care centre attended by the disabled person.

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