Polish government to increase its flagship child handout

Polish government is to increase the amount handed out under its flagship 500+ child benefit programme, the ruling Law and Justice party leader has said.

Leader of Poland's ruling Law and Justice party, during a convention in Warsaw on Sunday.

Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański

Jarosław Kaczyński made the announcement during the party’s convention in Warsaw on Sunday.

Under the new plan, dubbed 800+, the government is to give families with children a handout of PLN 800 (EUR 175) a month per child, and increase from 500 PLN.

Kaczyński also announced that senior citizens aged over 65, as well as children up to 18 years of age will be entitled to free medicines.

The Law and Justice leader also said the government is to make highways and expressways across the country free of charge.

Family and Social Policy Minister Marlena Maląg said in March, that the "Family 500+" programme, which benefits around 7 million children nationwide and has also helped reduce poverty by increasing household income.

Payouts to parents have exceeded PLN 220 billion (EUR 48 billion, USD 53 billion) since the programme was launched on April 1, 2016, according to officials.

(tf)

Source: IAR