Additional care allowance for the duration of childcare in connection with the closure of the COVID-19 nursery – children’s club – kindergarten – school

Extensive prophylactic measures

The next two weeks are the time of extensive actions to prevent the rapid spread of coronavirus in Poland. We act preventively and prophylactically. Thanks to such actions we will reduce large concentrations of people in Poland. The fewer people in one place, the less likely there is to be a rapid spread of coronavirus or other viruses. Hence the decision to limit places full of people, so that we can act preventively. It is a suspension of classes in schools, kindergartens, nurseries and universities.

All the activities are possible thanks to the so-called “soft”. a special law on special solutions to combat coronavirus epidemics. Thanks to this law, parents of children under 8 years of age will be entitled to an additional care allowance in the event of the unforeseen closure of a crèche, kindergarten, school or children’s club.

1) Who is entitled to an additional care allowance for the duration of childcare due to the closure of the COVID-19 nursery – children’s club – kindergarten – school?

Additional guardianship allowance is granted to parents or legal guardians of children who:
– care for a child under 8.
– The following are covered by sickness insurance (e. g. are employees, contractors, persons conducting non-agricultural activities).

2) The additional care allowance is granted in the amount of 80% of the basis for calculating the allowance.

How can I get additional care allowance?

An employee or contractor makes a declaration to his or her contribution payer, e. g. employer, principal.

If the additional care allowance will be paid by ZUS, the payer of the premiums will transfer the statement of the insured to ZUS. It can do so via the Electronic Services Platform (PUE) ZUS. In this case, a scan of the certified statement is attached to the Z-3, Z-3a certificate.

Persons conducting non-agricultural activity and persons cooperating with them submit a declaration to ZUS.

No Z-15A application or Z-3b certificate of contribution payer is needed.

The declaration may be submitted to us electronically – via (PUE) ZUS. On the PUE ZUS portal, the declaration should be made using the ZAS-58 Complaint/Reporter Application for sickness, maternity or funeral benefits.

3) Is the additional care allowance due from 12 March or only from 16 March 2020?

The additional care allowance is due from 12 to 25 March as this is the period of closure in connection with COVID-19. for the entire period, including public holidays if you state in your statement the entire closure period, or for working days if you state such periods in your statement.

4) Can an additional guardianship allowance be granted until 27 March

If the crèche – children’s club – kindergarten – the school is closed from 16 March to 27 March in connection with COVID-19?

 If the school will be closed from 16 March and the parent will be taking care of the child from that date to 27 March, the additional guardianship allowance will be granted from 16 March to 27 March 2020.

If the school will be closed from March 16th to 27th this year. . , This limit will not be exceeded.

5) Does the period of additional care allowance count towards the 60-day limit?

No. The period of payment of the additional care allowance (14 days) is not included in the general limit of 60 days that a child under 14 years of age is entitled to.

6) How old are children who are covered by the parental leave allowance?

Children under 8. of a year old. You may take advantage of the allowance no later than the day before your child’s eighth birthday.

Example
Mom applied for a care allowance from 16 March 2020 in connection with school closure. Her daughter was born on 22 March 2012. She is entitled to a care allowance from 16 to 21 March 2020.

7) How do I fill in the statement for the period of personal childcare?

You can either specify the total period of personal childcare or exclude days when you were not obliged to work from this period, e. g. Saturday and Sunday or the child was taken care of.

You can indicate the whole period from 12th to 25th March, or another period such as from 16th to 25th March or periods when the child was supposed to attend an institution that has been closed, e. g. 12-13, 16-20, 23-25 March, or other periods during which the child is not under-supplied.

8) Who should I inform about the benefit?

The employee should inform his employer, the contractor – his employer, and the person running a non-agricultural business – directly to ZUS.

9) When should I inform about the benefit?

At any time, but the payment of the benefit depends on it. Without a statement, no payment is possible.

10) How to count 14 days of additional care allowance?
The care allowance is paid for each day of care.

The care allowance is paid for each day of care.

If both parents of a child are working, one of the parents can apply for additional childcare allowance. They can also share custody of a child within the 14 day limit. Additional care allowance is granted to parents for a total of 14 days, regardless of the number of children requiring care.

1) Is there an additional care allowance for an employee who does not work and receives a parking pay?

The employee will not receive an additional care allowance because he retains his right to wages during the parking period.

2) Will I get extra care allowance if the child’s father is working remotely?

A parent who works remotely cannot provide care for their child. Therefore, the other parent is entitled to an additional care allowance.

3) Will the child’s father receive additional care allowance if the child’s mother is on sick leave?

Yes. A person on health leave cannot provide care for a child.

4) Is there an additional care allowance if a five-year-old child is cared for by a grandmother who refused to take care of her grandson during an aggravated coronavirus epidemic?

No, because the additional care allowance is only available if the nursery, children’s club, kindergarten or school where the child attends has closed.

5) Is there any entitlement to additional guardianship or care allowance as a general rule when the child’s parents employ a nanny on an activation contract who has stopped caring for their child due to the closure of their daughter’s school because of COVID-19?

Additional guardianship or care allowance is not available to the child’s parent if the nanny has stopped caring for their child. Parents are not entitled to childcare allowance because the immediate reason for looking after their child is not because the child did not go to school or crèche. The condition of closing the institution to which the child attends is not fulfilled.

A parent is also not entitled to a guardianship allowance according to the general rules set out in the Benefits Act (within 60 days), because the closure of the facility the nanny’s child attends is not a direct reason why the parent has to provide care for his or her child. If a child is looked after by a nanny, a carer’s allowance is generally payable if the nanny falls ill.

6) Who finances the allowance?

The care allowance and the additional care allowance are paid from the Social Security Fund. This means that benefits do not burden the employers’ fund. Even if the employer pays the benefit (if he is obliged to do so), he settles the amounts paid with ZUS.

ZUS Infoline number

If you need to contact us, please use the following telephone information:

phone number 22 290 87 01

– service for benefits due to quarantine or isolation service

– for care allowances for the time of child care in connection with the closure of a crèche, children’s club, kindergarten, school

– phone number 22 290 87 02 service for support for entrepreneurs

– phone number 22 290 87 03 service for cancelled medical examinations and medical rehabilitation

Under these numbers we are available on working days (called) from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A nationwide telephone line is also available at 22 560 16 00 on working days (Mon-Fri) from 7 a. m. to 6 p. m.

When you dial “0” (call the Call Centre consultant), please select the appropriate topic of the call:
1 Technical assistance and e-ZLA service,
2 Pensions,
3 Benefits,
4 Information for the insured,
5 Information for payers,
7 Support for entrepreneurs
9 Carer’s Benefits and benefits due to quarantine or isolation