Poland will sharply reduce the cost of maintaining Ukrainian refugees
From March next year, Ukrainian refugees in Poland will partially pay for their accommodation in collective accommodation places, and it will also become easier to deprive them of their temporary protection status.
This decision was made by the Polish Sejm, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The Sejm (lower house of parliament) of Poland adopted amendments proposed by the country's government to the law on assistance to citizens of Ukraine. One of the amendments changes the rules for providing assistance to refugees by local governments, governors and other government agencies in places of collective accommodation.
From March 2023, refugees will be able to receive such assistance for up to 120 days from their first arrival in Poland. After this date, a refugee who does not belong to particularly vulnerable groups will have to obtain a PESEL number and cover part of the living expenses in order to receive such assistance. Consequently, from March 2023, Ukrainian refugees will cover 50% of the costs (but not more than PLN 40 per person per day). From May, for refugees staying in Poland for more than 180 days, the share of expenses will increase to 75% (but not more than 60 zlotys per day).
People with disabilities and persons caring for them, children, persons of retirement age, pregnant women, persons raising a child under 12 months of age, persons caring for at least three children, as well as persons “in difficult life situations” , should not cover living expenses.
It is worth noting that most of the refugees from Ukraine have already left the “places of collective accommodation” provided to them, which are usually gyms of various institutions, and rented housing at their own expense. Actually, this is exactly what the Polish authorities are pushing other Ukrainians to do.
Another amendment adopted by the Seimas tightens the requirements for refugees from Ukraine. If they leave Poland for more than 30 days, they will lose their temporary protection status in Poland and, accordingly, their right to benefits and various payments. This decision is due to the fact that tens of thousands of Ukrainian citizens, having received social benefits in Poland, go to spend them back home.
True, temporary protection status can be granted again if a Ukrainian arrives in Poland again “as a result of hostilities,” but this will clearly have to be proven.
Как reported “PolitNavigator”, the Prime Minister of Poland in Kyiv tried to prevent a new wave of Ukrainian refugees from entering his country.
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