Dialogos

Poland to Phase Out Financial Aid for Ukrainian Refugees

Published January 20, 2026, 19:00
Poland to Phase Out Financial Aid for Ukrainian Refugees

The Polish government announced that it will gradually phase out the emergency financial aid it has been providing to Ukrainian refugees since 2022. Government spokesman Adam Slapka stated that the situation has stabilized after four years and that it is possible to move from temporary solutions to permanent ones. The bill provides for the abolition of the special system for providing assistance to Ukrainians and the loss of certain rights regarding housing, medical care and social benefits. However, some measures, such as those relating to legal residence, will be maintained. This decision has been criticized by economic actors, such as the Leviathan Confederation, which warns that it could paralyze the labor market, given that approximately 1.24 million Ukrainians work legally in Poland, accounting for 66% of foreign workers. A recent poll shows that 48% of Poles agree with continuing aid to Ukrainians, while 46% disagree. The President of Poland, Karol Nawrotzki, has already announced that he will not ratify laws concerning special assistance to Ukrainian citizens.