The childcare allowance extended until 17 January 2021

The government has prepared a project to extend the additional childcare allowance until 17 January 2021, also for the winter holidays, as a result of the introduction of the national quarantine. 

On 17 December 2020, the government decided to introduce national quarantine for the period from 28 December 2020 to 17 January 2021.

On the same day, the Government Legislative Centre received a draft regulation of the Council of Ministers on setting a longer period for taking childcare allowance in order to prevent COVID-19. Under this regulation, the additional childcare allowance will be extended until 17 January 2021.

The additional childcare allowance will be granted and paid under the previously applicable rules.

Kindergartens and nurseries will still be open and remote learning will be continued until 3 January 2021, but pupils will not return to schools until 18 January, i.e. after the winter holidays, which fall on the same dates in all voivodships (4-17 January 2021).

National quarantine – what restrictions?

The national quarantine will last from 28 December this year until 17 January 2021, and during this time the following restrictions will be imposed:

• restriction of the functioning of shopping centres, with the exception of: food, book and press shops, drugstores, pharmacies, as well as free-standing large-area furniture shops,
• hotels closed out to private guests, excluding uniformed services, doctors, patients of specialist hospitals, COS centres and hotels for staff,
• closed ski slopes, except for the infrastructure for professional sport,
• 10-day quarantine for people arriving in Poland with organised transport,
• a ban on nationwide movement during the night from 31 December 2020 to 1 January 2021 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., except for exits, inter alia, for business purposes,
• a ban on the movement of persons under 16 years of age without the care of a parent or legal guardian from Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, except for half term-camps for children,
• a restriction on public transport, i.e. 50% of the number of seats or 30% of the number of all seats and standing places, while leaving at least 50% of the seats unoccupied,
• closed gyms, fitness clubs and aquaparks,
• closed restaurants, and meals are still solely for take-away or delivery.

Learn more: Contributions to ZUS 2021