Child Benefit 800+ (świadczenie wychowawcze)

The 800+ child benefit is payable for every child up to the age of 18, regardless of family income.

Who can apply?

• Mother or father of the child
• De facto guardian — a person who is actually caring for the child and has applied to a court for adoption
• Legal guardian — a person to whom the court has entrusted guardianship of the child

Key rules

• The benefit is payable without income threshold — every family with a child receives it
• 800 PLN per month per child
• In the case of shared custody — each parent receives 400 PLN
• The benefit is not subject to PIT income tax
• Benefit period runs from 1 June to 31 May of the following year

Applying for 800+ requires relatively few documents — ZUS retrieves most data automatically from registers.

Basic documents

• PESEL number (yours and your child/children's)
• Bank account number to which the benefit should be paid

Additional documents (depending on situation)

• Court order or ruling — if you are a legal or de facto guardian
• Court ruling on shared custody — if the child is in shared custody of both parents
• Residence card with 'access to labour market' annotation — if you are a non-EU/EEA foreigner

If you are raising the child alone, you may need additional documents confirming your situation for the 800+ application.

Additional documents

• Certified copy of death certificate of the other parent — if the other parent is deceased
• Court ruling on deprivation of parental rights of the other parent
• Certified copy of final divorce or separation ruling — if applicable
• Bailiff's certificate of unsuccessful enforcement of maintenance — if the bailiff cannot enforce maintenance payments

If both parents actually share care of the child, the benefit goes to the one the child lives with and who provides financial support.

The 800+ application (form SW-R) must be submitted electronically only — it cannot be submitted on paper.

Application channels

1. PUE ZUS (Electronic Services Platform) — log in at pue.zus.pl via Trusted Profile, e-ID or electronic banking
2. mObywatel app — 'Services' tab → '800+ Benefit'
3. Online banking — most banks allow applications directly in their online portal

How to fill in the application?

1. Enter your details (first name, surname, PESEL, address)
2. Enter the child/children's details (first name, surname, PESEL)
3. Enter your bank account number
4. Indicate whether shared custody applies (if applicable)
5. Make the required statements
6. Submit the application

Application deadlines

• New benefit period (from 1 June) — applications from 1 February
• Newly born child — apply within 3 months of birth (with back payments)
• Application submitted after 3 months — benefit from the month of submission

After submission, ZUS verifies the data and issues a decision.

Processing times

• Application submitted by 30 April (for new period from 1 June) — payment by 30 June
• Application submitted in May — payment by 31 July
• Application submitted June–July — payment by 31 August
• Application for newly born child — processing within 2 months

How to check status?

1. Log in to PUE ZUS
2. Go to the '800+ Child Benefit' tab
3. Check the application status — received, being processed, processed

Decision

• If the application is complete — you will receive a benefit grant notification (not an administrative decision)
• The notification is available on PUE ZUS
• ZUS issues an administrative decision only in the case of refusal or at your request

After the application is approved, ZUS pays the benefit to the designated bank account.

Payment

• 800 PLN per month per child
• 400 PLN per month per child in the case of shared custody
• Payment is made on a set day each month — check the schedule on PUE ZUS

Benefit period

• Runs from 1 June to 31 May of the following year
• You must submit a new application for the next period
• Applications for the new period are accepted from 1 February

When does the benefit end?

• The child turns 18
• The child is placed in institutional care (foster care)
• The parent/guardian leaves Poland (with exceptions for seconded workers)