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Millions benefiting from child welfare payments in Poland

PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk 23.03.2018 08:30
Poland’s social policy minister has said that 2.4 million families are receiving payouts under the government’s flagship “500+” child benefits programme.
Elżbieta Rafalska, Poland's minister for family, labour and social policy. Photo: PAP/Tomasz GzellElżbieta Rafalska, Poland's minister for family, labour and social policy. Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell

Parents are receiving welfare payments for over 3.6 million children in total, Elżbieta Rafalska said on Thursday, as the government marked two years since the benefits were introduced.

"Due to the fact that a large percentage of funds from the 500+ programme goes to poorer families living in rural areas, it can be concluded that these benefits... reduce income inequalities in various regions of Poland," said Rafalska.

She added that there had been a noticeable increase in the number of births since the benefits were launched.

Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday that the 500+ programme would continue for “many years.”

Poland’s socially conservative Law and Justice government, which came to power in late 2015, aims to ease the burdens of child rearing by giving families with two or more children a handout of PLN 500 (USD 145, EUR 118) a month per child.

Poorer families receive the allowance even if they have just one child.

Government ministers have lauded the benefits programme for reducing poverty in Poland.

(pk/gs)

Source: PAP

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