Experts told what citizens of Ukraine must do in Poland in the spring

In order to legally stay in Poland, receive social benefits and avoid crime, citizens of Ukraine must do several things.

Experts of the EWL migration platform have collected information on what exactly should be done by the end of April for those who are and work in Poland, as well as for those who plan to travel to Ukraine or another European country.

Submit a declaration PIT-37

From February 15 to May 2, 2023, every citizen of Ukraine working in Poland, including employed Ukrainian refugees, must submit the so-called PIT-37. This is one of the main taxes for working individuals in Poland..

The employer makes deductions from the employee’s wages independently. But these are the so-called advance payments, which may not necessarily be accurate “to the penny.” Therefore, at the end of the year, a situation is possible when the employer paid a little more or less taxes on the employee’s salary. In order to “even out” financial inaccuracies in settlements with the state, there is a PIT-37 declaration.

Subject to overpayment, the state will return the excess part to the taxpayer. If there is an underpayment, then the employee will have to pay the required amount.

As of today, all Ukrainian employees who received a PIT-11 for 2022 from a Polish employer (a declaration from the employer on the basis of which you fill out your PIT-37 declaration) are required to file a PIT-37 declaration as a person with the status of a Polish tax resident.

Please note that if you worked in Poland at several jobs during 2022, you should receive separate PIT-11 declarations from each company – all of them need to be calculated.

In 2023, the tax office in Poland began accepting PIT-37 returns from February 15 to May 2, 2023 inclusive.

Write an application for social assistance “Family 500+”

From February 1, Ukrainians can apply for financial assistance from the Family 500+ state program (more than 4,000 hryvnias per month for child care). In Poland, a new settlement period for payments of cash assistance from the social insurance institution (ZUS) has started, which will last from June 1 of the current year to May 31 of the next year.

Financial assistance for child care is awarded regardless of income level. “500+” can also apply to foreigners legally residing in Poland and having access to the labor market. The application must be accompanied by a document confirming this. This may be a household card marked “access to the labor market” or a PESEL UKR status.

To maintain the continuity of payments, a new application must be submitted before the end of April. If you apply later, there will be a delay in payment of 1 month.

Must get PESELUKR

According to the updated rules for the stay of Ukrainian refugees in Poland, it is now mandatory to obtain a PESEL number within 30 days from the date of entry into Poland.

To maintain the status, a foreigner has the right to leave Poland for a period not exceeding 30 days.

“In order not to lose PESEL UKR, leaving Poland for less than 30 days, a citizen of Ukraine, upon returning, must notify the Polish border guard at passport control entering Poland on the basis of temporary protection. And he must also show the corresponding electronic document in the diia.pl application. Even if you go to work in Poland, but you have temporary protection, otherwise you may lose PESEL UKR and all the numerous social rights associated with it,” says Maria Kuzenko.

Renounce the status of temporary protection in Poland when leaving for another country EU

If a citizen of Ukraine left Poland for another European country for more than 30 days, then he must refuse temporary protection in Poland and receive it in a new host country. To do this, you must notify ZUS and close your bank account.

On the other hand, if a citizen of Ukraine decides to return to Poland later, thenwill no longer be able to obtain the status of temporary protection in Poland.

At the same time, you can come and stay in Poland until August 24, 2023. But social payments and other benefits provided for refugees are cancelled.

According to the law, if a citizen of Ukraine stays outside Poland for more than 30 days, then he automatically loses his PESEL UKR status.

Refuse “500+“ when leaving for Ukraine for more than 30 days

If a citizen of Ukraine crosses the Polish-Ukrainian border and is absent from the country for more than 30 days, he loses the right to legally stay in Poland, and hence the right to 500+ assistance. Therefore, if you are leaving Poland for more than 30 days, you should report your departure in your profile on the ZUS website.

ZUS has access to information about crossing the border with Ukraine and controls the timing in order to stop abuses: so that people who have already left Poland for more than a month do not receive assistance.

Now ZUS claims about 2 million unreasonably paid assistance and intends to return these funds. Therefore, now it will actively check the legality of receiving payments.

Ukrainian refugees in Poland – details

Almost half of the refugees (45%) from Ukraine plan to stay in Poland for a longer period – at least a year or several years after the end of the war. In March 2022, 31% of war refugees declared such a desire.

The majority of able-bodied Ukrainians who left for Poland because of the war found a job in this country (84%). Almost a quarter (27%) of refugees employed in Poland found a job within the first month after their arrival in Poland.