The Polish public’s view on raising the child benefit from 500 to 800 PLN
A recent CBOS survey shows a split in opinion about increasing the child benefit from 500 PLN to 800 PLN per child starting January 2024. Exactly half of Poles support the proposal, while 46 percent oppose it. The remaining 4 percent have no opinion. The divide is most pronounced among age groups, with younger respondents aged 18 to 24 more likely to oppose and older individuals aged 65 and over most often supporting the increase.
The CBOS report examined Poles’ views on the government’s pro-family policy and the plan to raise the benefit from 500 to 800 PLN per child. The findings indicate that 46 percent of respondents are satisfied with the government’s family-oriented actions, while 11 percent rate the policies as very good and 35 percent as good. A further 36 percent consider the measures satisfactory, and 14 percent view them as unsatisfactory. A small minority, 4 percent, had no opinion.
Per the study, perceptions of the state’s pro-family policy have remained relatively stable in recent times. Compared with last year, the share of people rating the policies as very good or good has remained roughly similar, suggesting steady sentiment about the government’s family initiatives.
When it comes to valorizing the benefit to 800 PLN, the survey shows a near even split among Poles: half support the idea, 46 percent oppose it, and 4 percent remain undecided. Among those who back the proposal, the tendency leans toward moderate endorsement rather than strong advocacy, with 27 percent saying they support it and 23 percent saying they strongly support it. Among opponents, 27 percent lean toward opposition, while 19 percent are mild in their disagreement.
Support for increasing the childcare allowance is strongest among the oldest respondents, with 67 percent of those over 65 in favor. It is also notably favored by respondents with basic education and basic vocational training, at 67 and 68 percent respectively, as well as by pensioners, where 64 percent express support and a striking 82 percent among those who are retired, although the wording of the data may reflect overlapping groups. A substantial share of those who care for the household and those with the lowest family incomes also back the increase, with 66 percent and 69 percent, respectively.
What shapes Poland’s attitude toward the 800 PLN proposal? The report shows clear differences tied to political views and religious engagement. Higher participation in religious practices correlates with greater support for the increase, while lower engagement correlates with higher opposition. Among political alignments, supporters of right-wing viewpoints are the most favorable, with 69 percent backing the rise to 800 PLN. In contrast, those on the left and in the center are more inclined to oppose, at 63 percent and 55 percent respectively.
Opposition to the increase is strongest among younger Poles, particularly the 18 to 24 age group, as well as among higher educated professionals, managers, and self-employed individuals, and among students and pupils who are part of the demographic. There are nuanced views about whether 800 PLN is too high or too low. The largest share of opponents to the increase feels that 800 PLN would be too high, with 62 percent expressing that view. Others in this group say it is hard to say or that it is an appropriate amount, with smaller shares arguing it would be too low.
Among supporters, the majority believes 800 PLN is appropriate, with about 75 percent holding that view. A smaller share considers it insufficient, while very few think it is excessive. The perception of the amount is influenced by household income. Respondents with lower income per person near or below 1,999 PLN are more likely to rate 800 PLN as too low, whereas higher-income respondents show a tendency to see 800 PLN as appropriate or even too high. For those earning at least 4,000 PLN per person, a larger share view 800 PLN as too much than as the right amount.
When asked to categorize the 800 PLN per child as too small, just right, or too large, about 45 percent of adults consider it to be the right amount. Around 29 percent see it as too large, 15 percent think it is too small, and 11 percent abstain from answering. Among supporters ofvalorization, a strong majority, about 75 percent, believes 800 PLN is appropriate, with a minority finding it insufficient and only a small fraction deeming it excessive.
On the flip side, those who oppose increasing the 500 plus benefit tend to view 800 PLN as too high, with about 62 percent expressing this sentiment. A smaller portion views it as an appropriate amount, while others are undecided. The study was conducted using a mixed-mode approach on a representative sample of adult residents drawn from the PESEL registry, spanning June 5 to 18, 2023, with 1,054 participants across several data collection methods.