Care Allowance for a Sick Child or Family Member in Poland — Rights of Foreign Workers

Your child is ill and can't go to school or nursery? Or you're caring for a sick spouse? As a temporary worker in Poland you have the right to a care allowance (zasiłek opiekuńczy) — paid time off to look after a family member. Here's everything you need to know.

What Is the Care Allowance?

The care allowance (zasiłek opiekuńczy) is a benefit paid by ZUS (the Polish social insurance system) to a worker who has to stay at home to care for a sick child or another family member. The allowance equals 80% of the benefit calculation base (roughly 80% of your salary) for each day of care.

The care allowance is different from sick leave (L4) — L4 covers your own illness, while the care allowance covers illness in a family member.

Who Is Eligible?

Workers covered by sickness insurance at ZUS are eligible. As a temporary worker employed by a staffing agency (such as Nexflow) under an employment contract or a civil contract with sickness insurance, you meet this requirement.

Note: sickness insurance is compulsory under an employment contract (umowa o pracę). Under a civil contract (umowa zlecenie), enrolment is voluntary — check with your employer whether you are covered.

When Can You Claim the Care Allowance?

The allowance is payable when you care for:

• A sick child under 14 — the most common case; the illness need not be serious — a common cold qualifies
• A sick child aged 14+ or an adult child with a disability — provided they live with you
• A sick spouse, parent, parent-in-law, or other close family member — if they live with you and need care
• A healthy child under 8 — when the nursery or school is closed (due to a teacher's illness, strike, or epidemic)

How Many Days Are You Entitled To?

• 60 days per calendar year — for caring for children under 14
• 14 days per calendar year — for caring for older children and other family members
• A combined maximum of 60 days per year across all entitlements

How to Claim — Step by Step

1. Notify your employer — call or send an SMS/email on the first day of absence (or before, if possible)
2. Get a medical certificate (ZUS ZLA) — the doctor issues an electronic certificate directly to ZUS via the e-ZLA system; you and your employer both receive a notification
3. Complete form ZUS Z-15A (care for a child) or ZUS Z-15B (care for another family member) — available at any ZUS office or at zus.pl
4. Submit the form to your employer — they pass the documents to ZUS and pay out the allowance

At companies with fewer than 20 employees, ZUS pays the allowance directly. At larger companies, the employer pays first and is reimbursed by ZUS.

Does This Apply to Foreign Workers?

Yes — the care allowance is available to anyone insured for sickness at ZUS, regardless of nationality. This includes Ukrainian and other non-EU workers employed legally in Poland.

Condition: you must have a valid work permit (or be working under an employer's declaration) and be registered with ZUS by your employer.

Care Allowance Under a Civil Contract (umowa zlecenie)

Under a civil contract, sickness insurance is voluntary. If you are not enrolled, you are not entitled to the care allowance or sick leave (L4). Check with ZUS or your agency's payroll department whether you are covered — it is worth knowing in advance.

Summary

• Care allowance = 80% of salary for days spent caring for a sick child or family member
• Available to workers with ZUS sickness insurance
• Maximum 60 days per year for children under 14; 14 days for others
• You need: a medical certificate (ZUS ZLA) + form Z-15A or Z-15B
• Applies to foreign workers on the same terms as Polish citizens

Questions about your employment rights in Poland? Contact Nexflow — we support our workers at every stage of their employment.