Additional support for parents of children who did not go to schools and kindergartens due to flooding in Poland: what you need to know
Natural disasters are always a serious challenge for society, especially when it concerns such sensitive areas as education and child care. Every emergency situation requires the state and society to respond quickly and provide support to those who need it most. Thus, as a result of large-scale floods in several voivodeships of Poland, thousands of children could not start the new school year due to school closures and evacuations. This situation has created new challenges for parents who find themselves unable to provide their children with access to education and care. In order to reduce the financial burden on families, the Polish government decided to provide additional financial support for parents whose children cannot attend school due to the effects of natural disasters.
What does financial assistance entail?
According to the Ministry of National Education, schools and kindergartens in the regions affected by the bad weather have temporarily suspended their work. In such voivodships as Lower Silesia, Opole, Lubuskie and Silesia, more than 500 educational institutions were closed due to floods. As a result, thousands of children are left at home, and many families need help to care for them.
Criteria for receiving assistance:
- Temporary notice on the closure of the institution:
In order to receive financial support, parents should have been informed about the closure of the educational institution no later than 7 days before this event. In the case of most schools closed due to flooding, this requirement has been met. - Availability of family members for care:
If there are other family members who can take care of the child, assistance may not be assigned. An exception applies to parents of children under 2 years of age – in this case, assistance can be received even when there is another family member capable of providing care. - Child’s age:
Assistance is intended only for parents of children under 8 years of age. This is important for those families where the older children can already stay at home independently, but the younger ones need constant supervision. - The deadline for receiving assistance:
State support can be provided for a period of up to 60 days in a calendar year. This will allow parents or guardians to provide the necessary care for the child for an extended period of time until the flood situation is normalized and schools resume operations.
How to get help
Parents or guardians who work under an employment contract, an agency contract or run their own business can apply to ZUS (Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych) for assistance. To do this, two main applications must be submitted: the Z-15A form and the application for the unexpected closure of the educational institution attended by the child. It is important to note that the amount of assistance is 80% of the average salary. This makes it possible to compensate for the losses of parents who are temporarily forced to stay at home to take care of their children.
Natural disasters such as floods always create unforeseen difficulties, but with additional support measures, the government is trying to ease the burden on families, especially those caring for young children. In addition, it is important that families are informed about the possibility of receiving assistance, as this can significantly ease their financial situation during difficult times.
