The Sejm narrowly expanded the Veterans of Operations Abroad Act this week, extending access to benefits for veterans who sustained injuries on missions, regardless of whether they are currently employed.
In a decisive vote, 445 deputies supported the reform, with only one voting against and none abstaining. A week earlier, the bill underwent its second reading in the Sejm, following approvals from the defense and social policy and family committees.
The amendment creates a right to a special compensation for all wounded veterans, including those who do not receive old-age or disability pensions. The entitlement applies to individuals who have been officially recognized as wounded veterans by the competent authorities.
Previously, the compensation was limited to veterans who were not employed. The new provision removes that restriction and guarantees payment of compensation to all soldiers and officers, whether on active duty, retired, or otherwise engaged in work.
Compensation amounts are determined as a fixed percentage of assessed health damage, linking benefits directly to the level of injury sustained during service.
During Thursday’s debate, Deputy Defense Minister Wojciech Skurkiewicz noted that the measure would affect a total of roughly 600 beneficiaries within the defense ministry and related structures under the interior ministry and administration. He indicated that the benefit would be disbursed quarterly, with the aggregate annual cost for these additional recipients estimated at approximately PLN 1.8 million.
“Responding to veterans’ demands”
The Sejm’s approval of the amendment to the Veterans Act, which ensures extra financial support for every wounded veteran, including active-duty personnel, is framed as a response to the appeals of servicemembers who risk their health and lives on missions. This sentiment was echoed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Ministry of National Defense, Mariusz Błaszczak.
The decision to extend benefits to all wounded veterans, regardless of current employment status, marks a shift toward broader recognition of service-related injuries and the financial realities that veterans face after missions end. The measure is seen as a concrete step toward ensuring that sacrifice on the field translates into tangible support back home.
Mariusz Błaszczak, serving as deputy prime minister and the head of the Ministry of National Defense, publicized the chamber’s vote on social media on Friday. He emphasized that the amendment guarantees additional compensation for every wounded veteran, including those still serving in uniform, thereby creating a veterans’ benefit that acknowledges ongoing service and sacrifice.
In remarks accompanying the announcement, Błaszczak reiterated that the amendment addresses the long-standing demands of veterans who served on missions abroad, often at substantial personal risk to health and life. The reform is presented as a practical recognition of that service and a step toward ensuring veterans receive the support they deserve in a timely manner.
Notes from the parliamentary process and subsequent commentary underscored the government’s commitment to honoring those who faced danger on international assignments. The reform aligns with broader efforts to bolster veteran welfare and streamline access to benefits that previously required more restrictive criteria.
These developments reflect a broader policy objective to strengthen the social safety net for veterans and to ensure that the financial rewards attached to service abroad are both fair and predictable. The legislation also signals ongoing parliamentary attention to how best to balance compensation scales with fiscal stability and administrative efficiency.
By committing to quarterly payments and defining compensation in relation to the documented severity of health damage, the measure aims to provide predictable support that veterans can rely on year after year. The government and parliament have framed this as a needed correction to past gaps in veteran benefits and a clear acknowledgment of the courage shown by those who served on missions abroad. The reforms also emphasize that the state remains responsible for those who bore risks in the line of duty, confirming a firm political pledge to uphold veterans’ rights. The reform process continues to be monitored for implementation details and potential adjustments based on veteran experiences and administrative feedback.
Note: This article provides a synthesis of the parliamentary actions and publicly stated positions on the amendment, drawing on official announcements and contemporaneous coverage attributed to parliamentary sources and government statements. For background, see coverage from contemporary political reporting outlets that documented the proceedings and the official statements of the deputy prime minister and defense minister at the time of the vote.