PLN 2,333 per month, regardless of income? This has never happened before. A new benefit for every Pole.

• The introduction of an unconditional basic income would mean the elimination of all other aid programs
• The BDP is to be universal, individual, regular and paid in cash, without any conditions regarding work or contributions
• On July 9, the Sejm will consider the proposal to introduce the above-mentioned benefit.
• The author proposes launching a pilot basic income program amounting to 50 percent of the gross minimum wage, i.e. PLN 2,333 gross, according to Infor.pl.

It's worth emphasizing that Unconditional Basic Income is a benefit that would be available to everyone regardless of income. This money would be distributed regularly, monthly.

The aforementioned benefit would be a form of compensation for the situation in which a significant portion of citizens contribute to the state's maintenance and social transfers, but in return receive, among other things, poor medical care and poor education.

BDP would have to meet several conditions:

• unconditionality - it should be granted without any conditions related to, for example, contributions or work undertaken;
• universality - it is to be granted to all citizens or inhabitants of a given territory, and not to a selected group;
• individuality - aimed at individuals, not families or households, and should not differ in height;
• monetary form – paid in cash, and not transferred in the form of goods, services or limited vouchers to be used for specific services and goods;
• regularity – most often it is said to be paid monthly; paid by the state or local government unit;

  Basic income is intended to be sufficient to meet basic needs.

At the same time, BDP would replace other benefits and allowances that are currently paid to specific groups of citizens (e.g. 800+ or ​​unemployment benefits).

BDP in the Sejm. What does the introduction mean?

Infor.pl explains that the Sejm has received a proposal to launch a pilot basic income program equal to 50% of the gross minimum wage ( PLN 2,333 gross ). The proposal will be considered on July 9.

According to this proposal, the benefit would be paid for at least 20 years, and all residents of the Silesian Voivodeship from the age of 3 would be entitled to receive it.

Moreover, parents raising children aged 3–5 could independently decide whether to join the program, due to the already existing protective programs.

The petitioner justified the selection of the Silesian Voivodeship as a pilot region for the basic guaranteed income. According to Infor.pl, the region is experiencing the effects of economic transformation related to the closure of mines, steelworks, and other industrial plants.

The website cited an opinion from the Sejm's Office of Expertise and Regulatory Impact Assessment. It concluded that introducing an unconditional basic income would be a significant change that could seriously undermine the current social security system.

According to the Office, it is difficult to estimate the consequences of such a decision on public finances, the labor market, and society. Furthermore, limiting the program to residents of the Silesian Voivodeship alone could violate the principle of social justice and the prohibition of discrimination.

Positive and negative effects of introducing BDP

Infor.pl cites a study conducted by the Polish Economic Institute. It shows that the positive effects of implementing BDP include:

• eliminating poverty and economic inequality,
• improving the safety of people employed on non-standard contracts (due to their form of employment, they do not have access to social benefits),
• eliminating the "poverty trap", i.e. a situation in which taking up a job involves the loss of benefits or allowances,
• increasing innovation – having a stable minimum provides a "safety cushion",
• simplicity and reduction of administration – one service could replace most of the existing bureaucracy,
• reducing fear of the future – the benefit could free many people from the fear of losing their job or worsening their health.

Infor.pl also lists the risks associated with the introduction of BDP:

• huge implementation costs – introducing BDP in Poland would cost PLN 376 billion annually and to implement it, the social security system would have to be completely rebuilt,
• risk of reduced professional activity – there is a risk of decreased motivation to work among part of the population,
• potential increase in inflation – universal payment of benefits could lead to an increase in demand and therefore an increase in prices,
• insufficient assistance for people with greater needs – equal support for everyone does not take into account people requiring special support,
• potential economic slowdown – caused by the need to raise taxes.

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