Inflation and increased cost of surviving are exacerbating poverty. Government's answer? More benefits

pch24.pl 8 months ago

According to reports, poorness and poorness affect Poles more frequently than in fresh years. The decline in the purchasing power of money and a crucial increase in the cost of surviving contribute to poverty. erstwhile asked about the consequence to this negative trend, the ministry of social policy sees the consequence in extended social benefits, which now even scope foreigners.

The latest study by EAPN Polska (Poverty Watch) on poorness showed that in 2023 almost all 15 Poles lived in utmost poverty, and almost half of the population faced poverty.

Overall utmost poorness has increased from around 1.7 million people in 2022 to 2.5 million in 2023. The last time specified a level was recorded in 2015. The situation deteriorated in both families with children and seniors and people with disabilities.

The authors of the study mentioned among the recommendations, among others, the yearly valorisation of educational provision, household benefits and social assistance. However, according to experts, inflation and increased costs of surviving are the main causes of the poorness of the nation – due to the increase in social offer.

PAP asked the household department to comment on the report, asking, among others, about planned actions to increase the safety of the poorest people and whether the valorization of 800 plus and household benefits is being considered.

The Ministry replied that the report's results are mobilising the Polish government to take action that "will let the trend observed for little than a decade to change".

"In the fight against advanced levels of aid poverty, there will be a evidence of PLN 170 billion, which were secured for social policy in the budget for 2025", stressed the MPPiPS.

The hotel besides pointed to a “47 % increase in expenditure on household support benefits”. This includes, among others, increased expenditure on the “Family 800 plus”, care benefits, support benefits, active parent benefits. Many of these benefits besides go to Ukrainians in Poland.

As the ministry pointed out, a squad was formed in the Ministry of Labour on the improvement of the social assistance system, which consists of “experts and practitioners”.

MRPiPS recalled that from 1 January 2025 income criteria in social assistance will be increased. They will amount to PLN 1010 for single-parents (i.e. they will increase by 30 percent), while for the individual in the household the criterion will be PLN 823 (i.e. it will increase by 37%). This will increase the amount of social assistance benefits, including the increase in monetary aid for self-allocation (from PLN 1837 to PLN 2066) or the maximum fixed benefit (from PLN 1000 to PLN 1229).

The hotel besides pointed to a number of another aid schemes to aid the poorest, including the School Meal Scheme, the 75 plus Care, the elder Support Corps, the Overcome Homelessness.

From May 2024, people in difficulty may benefit from food aid in the form of packages or meals under the European Food Aid Funds programme.

The EAPN study stresses that utmost poorness occurs erstwhile household spending is below the minimum of existence. Last year they were estimated at PLN 913 for a single individual and PLN 2465 for a household of 4 with 2 children. surviving in specified a situation for more than 2 months endangers physical health.

The study shows that in 2023 utmost kid poorness increased importantly from 5.7% to 7.6%. This means that 522,000 children lived below the minimum limit of existence.

The sphere of social exclusion (insufficient) has besides increased from 41.1 percent to 46%. In absolute figures, growth occurred from 15.4 to 17.3 million people who live below the social minimum.

(PAP)/work. FA