Parental Salary proposed to replace 800-plus for infants

4 August 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Proposal would replace 800 plus with a Parental Salary equal to the minimum wage; minister says it’s only a proposal.

A proposal from the Rozwój Plus association would replace the 800 plus child benefit for the youngest children with a Parental Salary equal to the national minimum wage. Moreover, the idea already drew a public response from Finance Minister Andrzej Domański.

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Parental Salary: what the proposal says

The plan would pay one parent an amount equal to Poland’s minimum wage. Currently, that figure stands at 4,806 PLN gross. In addition, the authors want the payment treated as regular salary, subject to tax and social contributions. Consequently, the contribution period would count toward future pensions with ZUS (Social Insurance Institution). Furthermore, the payment would carry health insurance credits through NFZ (National Health Fund).

The association proposes to fund the new scheme by cutting or consolidating existing family programs. For example, the current 800 plus for children under three would end. Also, the so-called “Babciowe” (Active Parent) and the “Kosiniakowe” parental allowance could be reduced or merged. However, payments for children over three would remain under the current 800 plus rules.

Why this matters for families and the labour market

The proposal would change incentives for parents, especially mothers. Therefore, the scheme could influence decisions on returning to work. Moreover, employers could see shifts in female labour participation. In addition, the measure may affect childcare networks and public nurseries funding. Consequently, local governments could change how they allocate money for crèches and day care.

Importantly, the payment would increase pension entitlements for people who stay home with small children. As a result, some parents could gain higher future pensions through recorded contributions to ZUS. However, families would also face taxation on the new benefit, which could reduce net monthly support compared with untaxed cash grants.

Political response and next steps

The initiative comes from Rozwój Plus, a group founded by former prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki, and it is not a government bill. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Andrzej Domański told RMF FM he did not announce work on such a plan. Therefore, the current government keeps its own family support policies in place. Furthermore, the minister pointed to the Active Parent program launched in October 2024 as a priority program.

For now, the 800 plus scheme stays unchanged. Also, any replacement would need a formal bill and a full legislative process in parliament. Consequently, changes would not happen overnight, and policymakers must choose funding sources and legal details before implementation.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: Non-Polish residents often wonder who qualifies. In Poland, entitlements depend on legal residency and having a PESEL number (national ID). In addition, pension credits come through ZUS (Social Insurance Institution), and public health coverage goes through NFZ (National Health Fund). Therefore, expats with long-term residency or work records should check eligibility. Also, consult your employer or a tax advisor because the proposed payment would be taxed and would affect social security contributions.

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