A proposal to introduce a universal basic income of 2403 złoty per month for every resident of Poland over the age of three has been rejected by a parliamentary committee. The plan would have required the abolition of the popular 800 plus child benefit and other social programs. The decision effectively ends work on the initiative at the parliamentary stage.
The petition, submitted to the Sejm in 2025, called for a pilot program for unconditional basic income. Under the proposal, each person would receive a monthly benefit equal to half the minimum gross wage, currently amounting to 2403 złoty. The idea was referred to the Committee on Petitions for review.
The Ministry of Finance assessed the financial impact and concluded that even a significantly reduced variant – 1300 złoty per month for adults – would cost the state budget around 40 billion złoty each month, or nearly 480 billion złoty annually. This would represent approximately three-quarters of the planned state revenues for 2025 and over 12 percent of the country’s GDP.
The proposal in detail
The petition did not specify which existing benefits would be eliminated, but analyses indicated that financing such a large-scale program would likely require cutting or replacing several social transfers. Among the programs mentioned as potentially affected were the 800 plus child benefit, family care capital, and various other allowances. The Ministry of Finance stressed that introducing universal basic income would demand a fundamental overhaul of the social security system.
– The cost of even a reduced version would amount to approximately 40 billion złoty per month – said the Ministry of Finance in its official statement. – Implementing such a program without significant tax increases or spending cuts elsewhere is not feasible under current fiscal constraints.
The decision and its implications
The Committee on Petitions debated the proposal and ultimately voted unanimously to reject it. The decision was announced on July 6, 2026, bringing the parliamentary process to a close. No further work on universal basic income is planned at this time.
– The committee unanimously decided not to support the petition – said a spokesperson for the Committee on Petitions. – Members concluded that the proposal, while interesting, poses unacceptable fiscal risks and would require dismantling proven social programs that directly support families.
The rejection means that the current social benefit system, including the 800 plus program, remains unchanged. The issue of universal basic income continues to be debated in academic and political circles, but no legislative action is expected in the near future.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. PAP/Tomasz Wojtasik
