Almost a million Polish children are waiting for child support. Parents – mainly fathers – do not meet the awarded payments. In total, alimony debts in Poland amount to many billions. The maintenance fund helps. Benefits were supposed to increase from October 1, which the government promised, but there has already been a delay, so now there is an announcement of compensation.
Maks and Leon are 12 years old, and their father has not paid child support for eight years. – He has absolutely no parental obligation. She does not provide any form of support for her children, says Mrs. Anna Wochowska, the boys' mother.
Zuzanna and almost a million other children in Poland are in a similar situation, whose parents – most often fathers – do not pay alimony despite a court judgment. – Officially, the daughter's father does not work anywhere, so he has no income, so the bailiff cannot collect any money for alimony. As far as I know, she works, but no one can prove it – says Mrs. Rachela Wieczorek, Zuzanna's mother.
Maintenance debt in Poland reaches PLN 15.5 billion. The so-called alimony payers avoid paying benefits in every possible way. – There are claims that these are alimony payments for my ex-wife, or that I already have another family and these are my former children – points out Piotr Lebioda from the Chamber of Bailiffs in Szczecin.
The promise of the Civic Coalition
– Non-alimony is most often a men's problem – points out Justyna Å»ukowska-GoÅ‚Ä™biewska from the Coalition for a Million Children Without Alimony. As a result, it is a problem for children and mothers who raise them on their own. Hence the petition asking for action as soon as possible. – These expectations towards the new government and these proposals and promises that were made before the elections put these women on the verge of endurance – comments Justyna Å»ukowska-GoÅ‚Ä™biewska.
An increase in the benefit from the alimony fund, used by those who are unable to pay alimony, was promised. This was one of the pre-election highlights of the Civic Coalition. The payment from the fund was to increase from PLN 500 to PLN 1,000.
Mrs. Dominika Chabin, who takes care of her son with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, no longer counts on her husband's support. He wants support from the government. – I would appeal to them to leave their desks, come to one of these houses and see what independent parenthood looks like – says the woman.
To date, there has been no increase, even though higher benefits were to be paid from October 1. However, the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy assures that it will keep its promise. “The ready draft bill is waiting for consideration. Benefits from the alimony fund in the new, increased amount will apply retroactively from October 1, 2024,” we read.
On the other hand, the government announces a war against alimony payers. – The Civil Law Codification Commission, which operates at the Ministry of Justice, has established a team that will speed up the enforcement of alimony – announces Karolina Wasilewska from the Ministry of Justice.
Main photo source: facts