Plans for the new benefit were unveiled by Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński on Wednesday, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Kamiński told a news conference in Warsaw that soldiers and officials who fell in the line of duty “kept their oath to the end.”
Cash support for families of fallen soldiers, police
The interior minister announced: “The government seeks to create a consistent, comprehensive and clear system of care for their loved ones. We are determined to ensure that widows, widowers, orphans and parents of the fallen are able to live a decent life.”
Slated for introduction next year, the new cash allowance will be available to families of "fallen Polish Army soldiers, uniformed officials and civic groups of importance to national security,” according to officials.
Kamiński explained: “Members of these groups risk their lives to defend others and their property. We want the new regulations to apply to everyone who risks their life, including voluntary firefighters and mountain rescuers."
Spouses, children, parents
The new cash allowance would be available indefinitely to widows and widowers of fallen soldiers and law enforcement officials; to underage children until they turn 18, or 25 if they continue their education; and to parents until retirement, reporters were told.
The allowance would be linked to the average salary in the army or other uniformed service, such as the Border Guard, the Intelligence Agency or the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau.
Underage orphans would be entitled to 50 percent of the average salary, officials said.
So far, the interior ministry has identified around 200 families of fallen soldiers and law enforcement officials that could be eligible for the new form of support, reporters were told.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, gov.pl, wpolityce.pl