On April 30, the Council of Ministers adopted a draft law amending the Act on Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens in Connection with the Armed Conflict in Ukraine and certain other laws. Below is the most important information on the new solutions, important for refugees from Ukraine.
Support for Ukraine
Extension of the validity of legal solutions: The draft act extends the validity of specific legal solutions provided for in the Act of 12 March 2022 until 30 September 2025. This is the implementation of the adaptation of national law to the directive on temporary protection and the decision of the EU Council issued on its basis.
What has changed?
1. Extension of the legality of stay: The legality of stay of Ukrainian citizens will be extended until September 30, 2025, and from next year it will be possible to change the status of residence from temporary protection to temporary residence for a period of 3 years.
In order for a person from Ukraine to change their residence status to temporary residence, they will have to meet certain conditions:
- complete and update all necessary data in the PESEL UKR database at the municipal authority;
- submit an electronic application to the voivode to change your residence status;
- have an active UKR status both on 4 March 2024 and on the date of application;
- the security services will not raise any objections to the change of residence status.
2. Changes to the support system: The support system for Ukrainian citizens will change from July 1, 2024. Financing assistance related to accommodation and meals for refugees from Ukraine will only be possible on the basis of an agreement with the relevant voivode or local government.
3. New rules for cost sharing: The rules for sharing the costs of stay and meals in collective accommodation centres will change, and some financial support will be discontinued (financing the taking of photographs for documents and one-off benefits of PLN 300).
4. Compulsory school attendance for children: Compulsory school attendance for children of Ukrainian citizens will be introduced, related to the payment of the “800+” benefit.
5. Additional categories of foreigners: Temporary protection will also be provided to minor children of Ukrainian citizens and minor children of spouses of Ukrainian citizens without Ukrainian citizenship.
6. Maintaining support for people at risk of double exclusion: including people with disabilities, older people (women aged 60+ and men aged 65+), pregnant women or people raising a child of up to 12 months of age, and large families.
7. Implementation of a special independence programme for people leaving collective accommodation.
8. Provision of psychological services: It will be possible to provide psychological services to refugees by people from Ukraine with appropriate education obtained in their home country.
The new laws will come into force on 1 July 2024.
