Poland says it has been helping Ukrainian refugees for the past year

Polish President Karol Nawrocki has said that he signed the law on assistance to Ukrainian refugees for the last time, stressing the need to streamline the support system. This was reported by Kresy.pl.

Nawrocki said that Ukrainians should be treated on an equal footing with any other national minority.

I do not want to be the president of chaos, that is why I signed the second version of the law on assistance to Ukrainians, but I did it for the last time," he stressed.

The President clarified that the original version of the bill extending support for Ukrainian refugees included payment of 800+ Ukrainians who do not work in Poland, which he considered unfair to Poles.

What the new law changes

• Only those who officially work in Poland or whose children attend Polish schools will remain eligible for payments. An exception is made for people with disabilities.

• Recipients must earn at least 50% of the minimum wage in Poland.

• Polish authorities will check employment on a monthly basis. If a Ukrainian does not work, payments are stopped. The fact of possible departure from the country is also taken into account.

• In the field of health care, restrictions are introduced for adult Ukrainian citizens on a number of services, including rehabilitation, dentistry and part of drug therapy.

Earlier in September, Navrotsky extended the legal status of Ukrainian refugees until March 2026 after vetoing a bill to pay 800+ for all. The new law makes the aid system more selective and regulated, Polish authorities said.