Child Benefits for Ukrainians in the EU 2026: How Much Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Italy Pay and How to Apply

The specific amounts for 2026, the mandatory conditions and where to apply for Ukrainians under temporary protection in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Italy.

Poland — Rodzina 800+ (800 zł per child)

Amount: 800 zł per month per child up to the age of 18. From 1 February 2026, the rules for Ukrainian citizens with UKR status have changed significantly.

• Payments for UKR status were suspended on 31 January 2026 — to retain the entitlement, you must submit a new application from 1 February for the payment period February–May 2026.
• Employment requirement: the person submitting the application must be active in the labor market in the month before submission (work under a contract, sole proprietorship, etc.). ZUS checks this condition starting from the payment for February 2026.
• Education requirement: the child must attend a Polish kindergarten (zerówka) or a Polish school in person.

Exceptions from the employment requirement — it is not applied if the applicant:

• submits an application for a child who is a Polish citizen;
• is raising a child under 16 with a disability certificate;
• is raising a child over 16 with a confirmed moderate or significant degree of disability.

Where to apply: the application is submitted only online to ZUS (via PUE ZUS, the Empatia portal or the mZUS app).

Germany — Kindergeld (€259 per child)

Amount: from 1 January 2026 — €259 per month per child (an increase of €4). This is the official amount from the Bundesagentur für Arbeit; current recipients do not need a new application, the recalculation is automatic.

Who is eligible among Ukrainians: a residence permit under §24 AufenthG is required AND additionally one of the conditions (§62 EStG):

• actual legal work (Erwerbstätigkeit) — or payments equated to it (Elterngeld, unemployment benefit ALG I); or
• at least 15 months of continuous legal stay in Germany.

The §24 permit alone (in particular a short one, for several months) is not sufficient — one of the conditions above must also be met.

Documents for the Familienkasse: a §24 residence permit for the parents and for the child, the IdNr (tax number) of both. The application is submitted online via the Familienkasse (Bundesagentur für Arbeit).

Separately, Bürgergeld/Grundsicherung applies — basic social assistance. For those who arrived after 1 April 2025, the payments are lower (the level for protection seekers); those who arrived earlier — under the previous rules. Kindergeld and basic assistance are partially offset against each other.

Czech Republic — humanitarian assistance (there are no separate child benefits)

Persons under temporary protection are not entitled to standard Czech child benefits (přídavek na dítě). Instead, humanitarian assistance (humanitární dávka) applies. From 1 July 2025, the following rules apply:

• the first 150 days (~5 months) — at the subsistence-minimum level by age: 4,860 Kč (adult), 3,490 Kč (child), 4,188 Kč (child aged 6–10);
• from the 6th month: 3,130 Kč (adult), 3,490 Kč (child); for a vulnerable adult 4,860 Kč remains, for a child aged 6–10 — 4,188 Kč.

The final amount is reduced by household income and recognized housing costs; supplements apply for persons with disabilities. The first application is in person at any branch of the Úřad práce in the month of receiving temporary protection; the assistance must be applied for monthly, it is not paid retroactively.

Italy — Assegno Unico Universale

Amount (2026, after the ISTAT indexation of +1.4%): €58.30–203.80 per month per child depending on the ISEE indicator (family income). A lower ISEE means a higher payment.

• Maximum (€203.80) — with an ISEE up to €17,468.51; minimum (€58.30) — with an ISEE over €46,582.71 or without an ISEE.
• Ukrainians with a temporary protection permit are eligible for Assegno Unico (INPS circular No. 41 of 7 April 2023).
• Law No. 50/2026 (Art. 7-bis) abolished, as of 21 April 2026, the general requirement of 2 years of prior residence in Italy. This change was introduced primarily for workers from the EU; how exactly it affects the residence conditions for persons under temporary protection should be clarified with INPS before submission.

Where to apply: the application for Assegno Unico is submitted through INPS (online, via a CAF/patronato or the contact center). First the ISEE is processed, then the application for the payment.

A brief comparison

• Highest fixed payment per child: Germany (€259) and Poland (800 zł ≈ €185–188 depending on the EUR/PLN rate), but from 2026 Poland requires employment and education.
• Depends on income: Italy (Assegno Unico by ISEE).
• There is no separate child benefit: the Czech Republic — only general humanitarian assistance per person.

Amounts and conditions change — before submission, verify with the official website of the relevant institution (ZUS, Familienkasse, Úřad práce/MPSV, INPS).