The Polish government has decided to enhance social guarantees for citizens who have lost their jobs. The new increased unemployment benefit rates will take effect from June 1, 2026, and will apply to all registered unemployed individuals in the country.
This is reported by Finway
Increased Payments: Amount and Conditions
The amount of unemployment benefits will now be strictly dependent on the individual’s total work experience. For those with an insurance record of 5 to 20 years, the basic benefit rate will be 1783.90 PLN gross per month. This amount will translate to approximately 1620 PLN (around 16,000 UAH) during the first three months after registering as unemployed. After 90 days, the benefit amount will decrease to 1400.90 PLN gross, which is approximately 1270 PLN net.
If the insurance record is less than 5 years, the payments will be 80% of the basic amount. Individuals with over 20 years of insurance record will receive 120% of the standard rate.
Duration and Features of Receiving Benefits
The standard payment period for unemployment benefits in Poland is 180 days. However, in regions with critically high unemployment and for certain socially vulnerable categories of citizens, the term may be extended to one year (365 days).
Eligible for benefits are Polish citizens and foreigners, including Ukrainians, who legally reside and work in the country. A mandatory condition for receiving payments is registration at the local employment center (Urząd Pracy), as well as having at least 365 days of official employment with contributions to the Labor Fund during the last 18 months prior to the application.
“It is noted that the amount of financial assistance in Poland will be strictly tied to the worker’s total work experience. The basic rate for individuals with 5 to 20 years of experience will be 1783.90 PLN gross per month (the individual will receive approximately 1620 PLN / about 16,000 UAH) for the first 90 days, followed by a reduction of the payment to 1400.90 PLN gross (about 1270 PLN ‘net’).”
It is worth recalling that at the beginning of 2026, Poland experienced a wave of mass layoffs, which affected the labor market situation in the country.