Ukrainian citizens who are students at Polish universities have a right to apply for a social scholarship and for a student loan. You can also take advantage of free legal aid and free psychological assistance. Also, in many cities and villages, creative activities and workshops for children and youth from Ukraine are organized, so ask about it at the nearest Urząd Gminy, Urząd Miasta, school or community center.

The condition for receiving ZUS benefits by a Ukrainian citizen is having a PESEL number . This number may be necessary to obtain many other benefits as well as to set up a business.

A migration center in Poland that also helps Ukrainians: psychological support, job consultations, support for pregnant women, you can leave your child in kindergarten for a couple of hours.

In Poland, asylum seekers from Ukraine can get advice on the IOM hotline

Ukrainians who have found temporary shelter in Poland can contact the hotline of the International Organization for Migration for advice.

Specialists of the call center will provide clarifications on residence, the right to work or run a business, access to medicine and education.

In addition, the hotline can be consulted on legal regulations, administrative procedures and preparation of the necessary documents.

Consultation can be obtained by phone: +48 22 490 20 44 or by email: migrantinfopl@iom.int.

Asylum seekers from Ukraine can also find up-to-date information on the website .

A new Caritas Poznań support center for displaced people has opened in Poznań.

As stated on the center's Facebook page , everyone is helped here, regardless of nationality and date of crossing the border.

Free legal assistance of UA Support for refugees from different countries.

You can receive 500 PLN monthly for every child you have below 18 by submitting an application to ZUS.

Family care capital (RKO) can be obtained for a child between the ages of 12 and 35 months. The capital is provided for the second and each subsequent child in the family, if the child lives with one of the parents and remains dependent on him. One of the child's parents decides whether he wants to receive an allowance of PLN 500 for 24 months or PLN 1,000 for 12 months. The total amount of capital is up to 12 thousand zlotys per child.

You can also receive additional 300 PLN for a school starter kit for each child up to the age of 20, if they are attending school. The application can be submitted to a bank or directly to the Social Insurance Institution . This benefit is paid every year to parents of school-age children, which is to help prepare the child for school, that is, to buy textbooks and other necessary items.

As a citizen of Ukraine, you can also claim other social benefits:

• family assistance with allowances;
• parental assistance;
• one-time assistance at the birth of a child;
• care assistance for people with disabilities;
• assistance in caring for a disabled child;
• special care assistance for a disabled family member;
• the "Good Start" benefit, which parents of schoolchildren receive to purchase school supplies and prepare for the new school year.

You can find out more about the conditions for receiving and the amount of family benefits at the link .

Ukrainians can quickly apply for financial payments through the mZUS application

mZUS is a mobile application from the Social Insurance Office (ZUS). This application is intended for parents and guardians of children who may benefit from family assistance programs. In particular, mZUS is available to Ukrainian immigrants.

From March 2 , through the mZUS application, Ukrainians can receive payments under the following programs:

• co-financing the cost of a child's stay in a children's institution for families with children under the age of three;
• family care capital - 12,000 zlotys for the second and each subsequent child in the family, aged from 12 to 35 months;
• "Family 500+" - subsidy in the amount of 500 zlotys per month for each child, regardless of parents' income;
• the "Good Start" benefit.

In the mZUS application you will be able to:

• check the status of your application and data on the payment of assistance;
• call the ZUS hotline;
• book an electronic visit to ZUS;
• view received messages in your personal account on the PUE ZUS platform;
• receive notifications about payment application deadlines.

You can download the application through Google Play and IOS .

It should be noted that each program has its own application deadlines:

• co-financing the cost of a child's stay in a children's institution - during the year;
• family capital of guardianship - during the year;
• "Family 500+" - from February 1, if they received payments last year. If the application is submitted for the first time - within a year;
• "Good Start" benefit - from July 1 to November 30.

Parents of children attending daycare can receive monthly financial assistance in the amount of 400 zlotys. More information here .

From June 1, Ukrainians who are legally in Poland will be able to apply to the Social Insurance Office (ZUS) for the payment of child benefits, if they have not done so by May 31. Funds will be paid from August 31, 2023 to May 31, 2024. Source .

Mapuj Pomoc is an information portal for Ukrainian immigrants, where you can find:

• organizations offering assistance;
• important news and tips.

In the "Map" tab, you will find various organizations in Poland that offer material and social support. In addition, here you will find places with accommodation, food, psychological or educational support.

You can receive 500 PLN monthly for child by submitting an application to ZUS. You can also receive childbirth allowance (becikowe) in the amount of PLN 1,000 (for that submit an application at the Urząd Miasta or Urząd Gminy). After the birth of a child, you can apply for parental benefit in the amount of PLN 1,000 every month. The application must be submitted within 3 months of the child's birth at ZUS.

Ukrainian women in Poland with PESEL UKR status can receive Becikowe — a one-time Polish allowance of PLN 1,000 upon childbirth. However, certain criteria must be met:

• the application must be submitted no later than 12 months after the child's birthday;
• income per person in the family should not exceed PLN 1,922 per month;
• a pregnant woman must be registered in a medical institution from at least the 10th week of pregnancy and until delivery.

The easiest way to get Becikowe is to fill out the online form on the Emp@tia portal. The application is considered within 1-2 months. You can also contact the administration at your place of residence in Poland or the social assistance center. Source .

Is it also possible to receive Ukrainian child benefit?

From April 2023, parents who had a child during their temporary stay abroad can remotely submit documents for the appointment of child birth assistance. Previously, women could receive such assistance only after returning to Ukraine, by personally applying to the social protection body.

To do this, it is necessary to send an application and documents certifying the birth of a child issued by the competent authorities of the host country and legalized in the established order to the social protection body of the registered (declared) place of residence (stay). Source .

Our Choice Foundation . The foundation helps Ukrainian immigrants integrate into Polish society, and also develops cultural, educational, economic and political ties between Ukraine and Poland.

"Our Choice":

• conducts active information activities;
• publishes the newspaper "Our Choice" for Ukrainians living in Poland;
• run by the internet portal naszwybir.pl .

Also, the "Our Choice" Foundation created the Ukrainian House - a place where you can hold various meetings and presentations.

UAinKrakow is information portal for Ukrainians in Krakow.

Here you will find:

• latest news and tips for Ukrainians; cultural events;
• vacancies;
• and more.

You can join various Facebook groups where you can socialize with other Ukrainians:

• Українці в Польщі
• UKRAIŃCY W POLSCE - УКРАЇНЦІ В ПОЛЬЩІ
  
• УКРАЇНЦІ В ПОЛЬЩІ

You can join various Telegram groups:

• Українці в Польщі
• Українці у Варшаві
• Українці у Варшаві 2

Free admission to museums

Most museums in Warsaw have days when ukrainians don't need to buy entrance tickets.

• The Warsaw Uprising Museum is free on Mondays;
• National Museum of Technology - every Tuesday;
• Royal Castle - every Wednesday;
• Jan III Sobieski Palace in Wilanów - free admission on Thursdays;
• Museum of the Royal Baths - free every Friday;
• Museum of Sports and Tourism - no tickets required every Saturday.

"YOU HAVE A FRIEND IN ME" is a platform for thousands of Ukrainian children who fled to Poland and are forced to start a new life in another country. This website connects Ukrainians looking for support with Polish students who are ready to help. Fill out the questionnaire here .

You are entitled to a nursing allowance in the amount of PLN 135 if you are older age (over 75) to partially cover the expenses related to your care. Older people may also benefit from partial or full reimbursement of drugs. Also, if you have a guardian/carer (who is a family member), they may additionally apply for allowances and care benefits, i.e. nursing allowance (zasiłek pielęgnacyjny)- it amounts to PLN 215.84 per month, nursing benefit (świadczenie pielęgnacyjne) - PLN 2,119 per month, special care allowance (specjalny zasiłek opiekuńczy) - it amounts to PLN 620 per month. More information on social support is here .

You are entitled to a nursing allowance in the amount of PLN 135 if you are unable to live independently due to disability to partially cover the expenses related to your care. If you have an assistant/carer (who is a family member), they may additionally apply for allowances and care benefits, i.e. nursing allowance (zasiłek pielęgnacyjny)- it amounts to PLN 215.84 per month, nursing benefit (świadczenie pielęgnacyjne) - PLN 2,119 per month, special care allowance (specjalny zasiłek opiekuńczy) - it amounts to PLN 620 per month. More information on social support is here .

Foreigners are entitled to special care allowance payments (Specjalny zasiłek opiekuńczy). For this, they must live in Poland and fall under one of the following categories:

• Ukrainians with a PESEL code;
• foreigners who have the status of a refugee or additional protection in Poland;
• foreigners who have a temporary residence permit for the purpose of work, which was issued in Poland or another EU country;
• foreigners who have a permanent residence permit in Poland or EU countries.

To qualify for benefits, the combined income of the family of the caregiver and the family of the person requiring care per person must not exceed PLN 764 net income.

• If a person with a disability is a minor, then the family includes: this person, his parents (or the wife/husband of one of the parents, if they do not live together) and persons with whom the parents of the person with a disability raise the child.
• If a person with a disability is an adult, the family includes: this person, his or her husband or wife, or a person with whom a person with a disability is raising a child.

To receive payments, the following documents must be submitted to the city/rural administration or social security administration at the place of residence:

• Application for assistance (the application form can be found at the link );
• A copy of the certificate of incapacity for work or a certificate about the disability group of the person who needs care;
• Certificate or declaration of income.

There are many volunteering organisations and groups on Facebook where you can help:

• Pomogam Ukrainie ;
• Українські волонтери в Польщі Polska ;
• Volunteers in Poland .

1. Coordination Center of Legal Assistance . The center provides free legal assistance to persons forced to leave their countries and seek protection in Poland due to war and persecution.

• Address: ul. Towarowa 25A, 00-869 Warszawa.
• Contacts: +48 800 088 544, prawnycy.ukrainie@kirp.pl. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

2. Justice Fund under the Ministry of Justice of Poland . Provides urgent and free assistance to crime victims, witnesses and their relatives, including victims of armed aggression in Ukraine.

• Address: Al. Ujazdowskie 11, 00-567 Warszawa.
• Contacts: +48 222 309 900, funduszprawiedliwosci@ms.gov.pl. Consultations are provided 24 hours a day in English and Ukrainian.

3. Assistance points for asylum seekers. Free legal, psychological and medical assistance is provided here. The search engine available at the link will allow you to choose the point closest to you.

4. Lawyers for Ukraine. The Facebook group unites citizens of Ukraine who need legal assistance and Polish lawyers who are ready to provide it free of charge.

5. Legal portal for asylum seekers from Ukraine . Here, Ukrainians can get information on the most common questions: border crossing, legalization of stay, legislative changes concerning Ukrainians and their stay in Poland.

According to the Ministry of Reintegration, Ukrainians who were forced to go abroad due to the war can now send an application for the appointment or renewal of a pension by mail.

An application for the appointment (renewal) of a pension can be sent to any territorial body of the Pension Fund of Ukraine, regardless of the person's place of registration.

Infographics

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