In this section, we describe all the benefits which are awarded to parents related to the birth of a child or the managing of a child's upbringing up to 7 years of age. There are 3 kinds of leave and paid benefits available during this period.

The benefits described are:

• Maternity allowance and leave (zasiłek i urlop macierzyński)
• Parental allowance and leave (zasiłek i urlop rodzicielski)
• paternity allowance and leave (zasiłek i urlop ojcowski)

Under what circumstances am I entitled to benefits?

Benefits for the birth of a child are awarded to people with sickness insurance, which is obligatory for all workers in Poland. It is also possible to take out voluntary insurance.

Maternity allowance and leave are granted to the mother of a child and she may transfer her share to the father, on the condition that most of it is enjoyed by the mother. The child's father is entitled to the full maternity allowance when the mother has died or abandoned the child.

Parental allowance and leave is granted to both parents in a maximum of four parts, so that the parents may take leave at the same time or in turns.

Paternity allowance and leave is granted to an insured father of a child and is independent of the mother's leave.

What conditions need to be met?

Maternity allowance and leave is granted to the mother of a child but she may give part of it to the father on the condition that most of the leave has been used previously.

The child's father is entitled to the full maternity allowance in cases where the mother has died or abandoned the child.

Maternity allowance is granted to an insured person who has:

• had a baby;
• adopted a child of up to 7 years of age;
• taken in a child of up to 7 years' old to raise them in a stepfamily.

Parental allowance and leave may start once the maternity leave ends. Both parents are granted it in a maximum of four consecutive parts which last for at least 8 weeks. The parents may take leave at the same time or in turns.

A written application for parental leave for a mother or father must also be submitted 21 days in advance.

Parental leave may be combined with, at most, half-time work for the employer granting the leave.

Paternity allowance and leave is independent from maternity leave and is granted entirely to the child's father. It can be taken at once or divided into two parts.

Paternity leave may be enjoyed until the child reaches 2 years. If not used, the benefit is forfeited.

If the income per capita in a family with a child does not exceed a certain threshold (the so-called income criterion), the family may be entitled to a family allowance and a one-off childbirth grant. You can read more on this topic in "Family benefits».

What am I entitled to and how do I apply?

Length of leave

The length of maternity leave depends on the number of children born during one birth:

6 weeks of maternity leave may come before the due date of the birth. The remaining part may be used following the birth.

Length of remaining leave:

Amount of the benefits

The amount of the benefits associated with births is calculated as the average monthly wage paid over the 12 months preceding the leave. The amount of benefits paid is at a flat rate:

Benefits are granted on the basis of a certificate of the due date (for the period before the birth) and the abridged deduction of the child's birth record (by the period from the day of birth).

The appropriate documents must be submitted to the relevant branch office of the Social Insurance Institute (ZUS) for that location. If you work in a company employing over 20 people, documents must be submitted to the employer.

Documents to be completed

• Certificate ZUS Z-3 - if you are a worker
• Certificate ZUS Z-3b - if you manage a company
• Certificate ZUS Z-3a - for other insured persons

Know your rights

The links below set out your rights; they are not European Commission sites and do not reflect its opinions:

• The government website describes the benefits granted to a family: https://rodzina.gov.pl/
• Contact form on the page of the Ministry of Family and Social Policy devoted to the family: https://www.gov.pl/web/rodzina/dane-kontaktowe
• Claiming maternity benefit for the birth of a child – necessary documents
• Application for a birth certificate - guidance on the website of Warsaw City Hall
• Maternity allowance – leaflet of Social Insurance Institute (ZUS) in English

European Commission websites and publications:

• Welfare benefits: your rights abroad as EU residents

Who do I contact?

Ministry of Family and Social Policy - Department on Labour Law (in relation to the right to leave)
ul. Nowogrodzka 1/3/5
00-513 Warsaw
Tel.: +48 538117320
Internet: www.gov.pl/rodzina

Email: info@mrips.gov.pl

Ministry of Family and Social Policy - Department of Social Insurance (in relation to the right to allowance)
ul. Nowogrodzka 1/3/5
00-513 Warsaw
Tel.: +48 538117390
Internet: www.gov.pl/rodzina
Email: info@mrips.gov.pl

Social Insurance Institute (ZUS) – Headquarters
ul. Szamocka 3, 5
01-748 Warsaw
Internet: www.zus.pl

ZUS call centre

Consultation hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on working days. An automatic information system is available 24/7.

number intended for connections with mobile telephones and fixed and foreign lines: +48 225601600

Skype: zus_centrum_obslugi_tel

Email address for general enquiries: cot@zus.pl

Search engine of ZUS offices by place name or municipality and postcode