300 PLN for each child: Poland will help Ukrainians prepare their children for school
Poland remains one of the countries that not only sheltered the most Ukrainian refugees, but also continues to provide targeted support in the education of children. For many families who were forced to leave Ukraine because of the war, the school year in a new country became a real challenge. The Polish state has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to facilitate the adaptation process for Ukrainian children. One of the concrete examples of such support is the participation of Ukrainian refugees in the nationwide Dobry Start program, which reaches millions of children in Poland every year.
Help before the start of the academic year: what the program provides
Starting July 1, 2025, applications for participation in the Dobry Start program will start again in Poland, which provides a one-time financial assistance of 300 zlotys (approximately 78 US dollars or 3,267 hryvnias) for each school-age child. It is reported Іnpoland. The purpose of the payment is to purchase school supplies, clothes and other basic needs for the beginning of the school year.
The program covers students studying in Polish schools – regardless of citizenship, nationality or family income. Parents, adoptive parents or official guardians of a child who actually attends school in Poland can receive help.
Who is entitled to payment
Dobry Start applies to all children under the age of 20 attending school. For children with disabilities, payments continue until they reach the age of 24. The program does not cover children attending kindergartens or preparatory classes (zerówka).
What is important for Ukrainian refugees: participation in the program is possible if two basic requirements are met:
- The presence of a legal stay in Poland — at least one parent or official guardian together with the child.
- Actual education of a child in a Polish educational institution.
These conditions are the same for citizens of Poland and for foreigners, in particular for citizens of Ukraine who arrived after February 24, 2022.
How to apply
Submission of applications is carried out exclusively in electronic format through the following services:
- state portal PUE ZUS (the main tool of state social security),
- mZUS mobile application,
- social portal Emp@tia,
- electronic banking services of Polish banks.
To do this, you need to have a confirmed electronic identification – a profile in ZUS or an electronic signature. Without this, the system will not allow you to submit a request.
Applications can be submitted until August 31, 2025. If documents are submitted before this deadline, payment is guaranteed no later than September 30. If, for some reason, the family submits the documents in September, October or November, the money will arrive within two months from the moment of submission.
For families currently living in Poland, the payment of 300 zlotys is not only financial support, but also a signal of inclusion in the system of state care for children. The Polish authorities thereby make no exceptions between their own citizens and those who fled the war, demonstrating the pragmatic integration of refugees into the social infrastructure. Given that a significant number of Ukrainian families have two or more school-age children, the total amount of aid can be significant in preparation for September — especially given the rising prices for backpacks, stationery and sports uniforms.
This step of the Polish state emphasizes the systemic nature of support for Ukrainian children, which is not limited to humanitarian packages, but is embedded in state programs open to all residents of the country. Dobry Start is an example of how a policy of equal access to resources can build trust between communities, reduce tensions and promote stability even in crisis situations.
