When the opposition wins elections, the plan is to remove the 500 plus benefit with a rationale of tightening the budget after years under PiS
The Minister of Education and Science, Przemysław Czarnek, stated that if the opposition takes power the government would likely reshape the 500 plus program, arguing that the budget situation requires belt tightening after the period of PiS rule.
Poland: households receive PLN 9,900 per child annually
During a Friday appearance on TVP Info the minister was asked about the government draft amendment to the state aid law for child rearing. The proposal would raise the monthly support from 500 plus to 800 plus starting January 1, 2024. He was questioned about comments from Poland 2050 politicians who criticized the extra payments as wasteful for electoral purposes and questioned whether the money is being spent wisely.
Reflecting on past years, the minister recalled that in 2015 a family with a 10 year old in the fourth grade faced limited resources for clothing, meals, sports development, or language classes. He described the situation as one of extreme poverty in many parts of the country. He argued that the 500 plus program helped millions of Polish families by enabling children to be dressed suitably for school, participate in vacations and extracurricular activities, and access basic needs that had been scarce before the program.
The minister noted that from 2016, and especially from 2017 when all children were brought into the 500 plus program, families began receiving an annual total of 6,300 zlotys per child, including the August layette. With the proposal to raise the benefit to 800 zlotys per month starting January 1, 2024, the annual total would reach 9,900 zlotys per child. This increase would allow families to cover clothing, additional activities, trips, vacations, and suitable IT equipment for their children, he argued.
The minister contrasted past administrations with today, highlighting that 2015 saw no such funds in place under earlier governments. He asserted that today the income supports are significantly improved and cited the benefit as a cornerstone of child development and family assistance.
He framed the question of whether a child should receive 9,900 zlotys per year as a matter of state responsibility for child development and family support. Critics who label the program as a giveaway were mentioned as opponents of the expansion, while supporters argued that the funds help families invest in their children’s futures.
During the interview the presenter asked about Civic Platform’s stance on the changes, noting that the party had shifted from opposing 500 plus to supporting expansion and now proposing an 800 plus timeline either from January 2024 or later in the June period. The debate also touched on past statements by party members who questioned the measure as wasteful or unfunded.
The conversation brought up a remark attributed to Janusz Palikot about political honesty and electoral prospects, suggesting a strategic mismatch between arguments and outcomes. The minister responded by emphasizing the clear numerical advantage of 9,900 zlotys over zero and argued that the opposition lacked substantive arguments to oppose the measure.
There was additional discussion about the opposition’s proposed protection of 800 plus and whether that program would be maintained. Critics claimed that the government would remove the 800 plus while others argued the opposite, citing the need to address the budget situation and defend family support in the face of fiscal pressures. The minister framed this as a clash over how to treat Polish families who rely on the program for development and daily needs.
In closing remarks, the minister highlighted a political contrast with the opposition and noted that some figures previously associated with Civic Platform have labeled the payments as a waste, while others now defend higher benefits. The exchange underscored ongoing tensions over how to balance social support with fiscal responsibility.