Ukrainians whose children study in Polish schools can receive assistance under the “Good Start” program

The beginning of the school year is always associated with additional costs, especially for those families who were forced to leave their home country due to war. Ukrainian parents currently living in Poland with the status of temporary protection have the opportunity to receive annual financial assistance for preparing their children for school. We are talking about the Dobry Start program, which has existed in Poland since 2018 and once again covers citizens of Ukraine. Edition inpoland informs that in 2025 it is possible to apply for participation in the program from July 1. It is important to know who is entitled to it, how to draw up documents, what nuances apply to Ukrainian children with the status of temporary protection, and what has changed compared to the previous year.

Who can get help?

As part of the “Good Start” program, parents or legal guardians of children studying in Polish schools can receive PLN 300 for the purchase of things necessary for education. The main condition for receiving aid is that the child must study at a school in Poland, starting from the first grade, and be no older than 20 years old. If we are talking about a child with a disability, then the upper age threshold is increased to 24 years. Parents, guardians, institutions that raise children, as well as adult students who have lost their parents or have acquired full civil legal capacity have the right to help.

The program does not apply to children who are still attending kindergarten or preparatory class (the so-called zeruvka), as well as to those who have already completed schooling and do not meet the age criteria. Another mandatory condition is the presence of a valid PESEL number, in the case of Ukrainians – PESEL UKR.

Ukrainian families staying in Poland with the status of temporary protection retain the right to receive 300 zlotys of assistance under the Good Start program if the child has a PESEL UKR and studies in a school that is part of the Polish education system. Residence in Poland is also a necessary condition.

In 2025, the requirement to confirm access to the labor market or legal employment for Ukrainian parents was abolished. This change significantly simplifies participation in the program. At the same time, in case of doubt, ZUS may request a certificate from the school confirming the child’s actual education.

How to apply

Submission of applications is possible only in electronic form. The following three methods are available:

• through the Emp@tia portal (empatia.mrpips.gov.pl) — only if you have a trusted profile (Profil Zaufany);
• via the ZUS platform — PUE ZUS;
• through online banking that supports integration with government services (among the banks are PKO BP, mBank, ING, Millenium, Credit Agricole and others).

Those who do not yet have a trusted profile should create one in advance, because without it it is impossible to apply.

List of required data and documents

To fill out an electronic application, you must provide:

• passport or ID of the applicant and child;
• PESEL or PESEL UKR number;
• address of actual residence in Poland;
• the name and address of the school where the child studies;
• number of the bank account to which the funds will be transferred.

If necessary, guardianship, disability or adoption documents are also required. Scanned copies or photographs of the specified documents are attached to the application in electronic format.

Terms of submission and receipt of funds

You can apply for participation in the program from July 1 to November 30, 2025. However, in order to receive payment before the start of the school year, it is best to complete everything before August 31. In this case, the money should arrive no later than September 30. If the application is submitted later, the payment will be made within two months from the date of submission. The transfer will be sent to the bank account specified in the application.

The PLN 300 allowance is tax-free and is not taken into account when calculating other social benefits – it is an independent, annual support for all school-aged children.

The “Good Start” program recognizes the needs of children during the period of adaptation to a new educational environment. For many Ukrainian families who are forced to stay in Poland, this support is essential: the funds help to buy school supplies, reduce the burden on the family budget, and most importantly, show that Poland not only accepts, but also supports.

In 2025, participation in the program has become even more accessible: the removal of the employment requirement removes barriers for many refugees who find themselves in a situation of uncertainty. All you need is a PESEL UKR, proof of your child’s education and bank account details.

Although the last day for receiving applications is November 30, it is better not to postpone the registration until the last moment. Applying in July-August is the best strategy so that the money arrives on time, before the start of the academic year. This will avoid stress, queues, technical failures and at the same time provide the child with everything he needs on the first day of school.