300+ school allowance calculator (Dobry Start) 2026

Dobry Start (Good Start / 300+) is a one-off annual benefit of PLN 300 per school-age child, paid before the start of the school year to help cover school supplies. It is available to all families regardless of income, for children aged up to 20 (or 24 with a disability) attending school.

The amount is PLN 300 per child and has remained unchanged since the programme was introduced in 2018. It is a fixed benefit, not means-tested and not indexed to inflation.

Parents, legal or actual guardians of the child, and adult pupils themselves can apply. The child must attend a school (primary, secondary, vocational, art school, etc.). Pre-school, kindergarten and universities are not covered.

Applications are accepted from 1 July to 30 November of the given school year. Submitting by 31 August guarantees payment by 30 September. Applications in October or November are paid within 2 months of submission.

Applications are submitted exclusively online — via the Emp@tia portal (empatia.mrips.gov.pl), online banking (most major banks support this) or the mObywatel app. Paper applications at a government office are not accepted.

No — Dobry Start is a universal benefit with no income threshold. Every eligible family, regardless of earnings, can claim it for each school-age child.

Children attending primary school, secondary school (high school, technical school, vocational school), art schools, special schools and other educational institutions qualify. The age limit is 20 (or 24 with a disability certificate). Pre-school and higher education are excluded.

If the child changes school or stops attending after the application is submitted, the benefit generally does not need to be returned, as it was granted for the school year. No additional formalities are required when changing schools between application cycles.

Yes — adult pupils (aged 18–20, or up to 24 with a disability) may apply independently and have the benefit paid to their own bank account.

No — the Dobry Start benefit is exempt from income tax and is not counted as income when assessing eligibility for other benefits (e.g. 500+, family allowances). The full PLN 300 per child is available to the family.