Those who are late will lose several thousand złoty. It's important to apply for a heating voucher on time.

• The heating voucher is available to people whose income does not exceed the established thresholds - PLN 3,272.69 in a single-person household and PLN 2,454.52 per person in a multi-person household.
• The amount of the subsidy depends on the price of heat: in 2025 you can receive from PLN 500 to PLN 1,750, and in 2026 from PLN 1,000 to PLN 3,500.
• Applications must be submitted by specific dates - in 2025 from November 3 to December 15, and in 2026 from June 1 to July 31.

The next.gazeta.pl portal recalled that in September, the Sejm (lower house of parliament) passed a bill providing for a heating voucher for low-income households. This decision was dictated by constantly rising energy prices.

The first increase took place at the beginning of the year, shortly afterwards prices were frozen until the end of June, but new, higher tariffs have already been included in settlements for residents .

Some cities are seeing increases of around 90 percent. Currently, the heating voucher is awaiting the mayor's signature.

The voucher applies only to people who use district heating. The income limit for a single-person household is PLN 3,272.69, and for a multi-person household, PLN 2,454.52 per person.

After exceeding the limit, the "zloty for zloty" rule applies, i.e. you can receive support in the amount reduced by the difference in income, as long as it is not lower than PLN 20.

The amount of the heating voucher depends on the current heat price. The benefit is payable when heating costs exceed PLN 170 per gigajoule (GJ). In the second half of 2025, i.e., during the first period of the voucher's validity, households can receive:

• PLN 500 for a price of PLN 170-200/GJ,
• PLN 1000 for a price of PLN 200-230/GJ,
• PLN 1,750 if the price exceeds PLN 230/GJ.

In 2026 the amounts will be higher:

• PLN 1,000 for prices in the range of PLN 170-200/GJ,
• 2000 PLN for 200-230 PLN/GJ,
• PLN 3,500 when the heat cost exceeds PLN 230/GJ.

As next.gazeta.pl points out, application deadlines are crucial, as missing them may result in the loss of entitlement to the voucher, which is not granted automatically . Applications for the current year (July 1st to December 31st, 2025) will be accepted from November 3rd to December 15th .

For next year (January 1 - December 31, 2026), the application period is from June 1 to July 31. It is necessary to attach a certificate from the heating supplier confirming the heating price. Officials have 90 days to review the documents.

The first tranche should reach beneficiaries early next year, and the second in the summer, before the next heating season . The voucher does not affect the calculation of the 14th pension or other social benefits and is protected from seizure by bailiffs.