In Poland, changes are being prepared that could restore the right for some Ukrainians to receive free accommodation and food in collective accommodation centers. The draft law has already been submitted to the Sejm, but it has not yet been approved, so the current rules remain unchanged. This is reported by In Poland.
Aid for Ukrainians in Poland: Who is Being Added to Vulnerable Groups
As of July 1, the right to free accommodation and food in collective accommodation centers has been preserved only for certain vulnerable categories defined by law. In particular, these are pregnant women, people with disabilities, and some elderly individuals.
The Left Club submitted a draft on July 3 to expand this list. Poland's Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, stated that the current rules do not consider a portion of people who also need support.
For example, a mother with a child with disabilities may have the right to live for free in the center, but her other children do not always have the same right. The authors of the initiative propose to eliminate such contradictions.
The following are planned to be added to the list:
- single mothers raising children independently;
- pensioners with payments of less than 50% of the minimum Polish pension;
- members of families of people who already belong to vulnerable groups.
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Medical Aid for Ukrainians in Poland: What Else the Draft Law Proposes
One specific provision of the draft law concerns access for Ukrainians to medical insurance and basic free medical assistance. According to the authors' plan, this should not depend on living in a collective accommodation center or belonging to a vulnerable category.
According to the initiators' estimates, expanding the right to free housing and food will cost Poland approximately 18 million zlotys. An additional 80 million zlotys will be needed for medical insurance and basic assistance.
Currently, this is just a parliamentary proposal. For the document to take effect, it must undergo consideration in the Sejm, be approved by the Senate, and signed by the President of Poland. Until then, Ukrainians should adhere to the current rules, which are explained by Polish voivodeship authorities.