PolandThe number of children living below the poverty line in Poland has increased to 435,000, according to data published by the Central Statistical Office (GUS). This rise is attributed to the lack of indexation of family benefits such as the '500 plus' allowance and child support payments. In 2025, nearly two million Poles lived in extreme poverty, defined as earning less than the minimum subsistence level. The percentage of people unable to meet basic needs like food and healthcare reached 5.3%, slightly up from 5.2% in the previous year. According to estimates by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN), the number of children in extreme poverty rose by 20% over the past year. Professor Ryszard Szarfenberg from the University of Warsaw explains that the increase in poverty rates in 2023 was due to the failure to adjust these benefits during high inflation. However, after the government raised the child care allowance from 500 to 800 zł in 2024, there was a noticeable decline in child poverty. Despite this improvement, the current level of family allowances remains unchanged since 2016 and has lost value due to ongoing inflation.
Bias read (Left): The article highlights the negative impact of the government's failure to index social benefits, which has led to an increase in child poverty. It criticizes the government's policies and emphasizes the need for immediate action to address the issue, suggesting that increasing family allowances is a
