The Ministry of Justice has published a child support table. Many fathers ask directly: does the new, progressive formula burden men more, given they make up 94% of child support debtors? Below I present a detailed analysis with net-to-gross simulations.
What is the child support table
- It is a tool indicating “typical” amounts, depending on: the child’s age, the number of children being supported, and the gross income of the obligated parent.
- It has no legal force, but is meant to unify case law and speed up mediation.
- The base amount (PLN 1,004 for a child aged 0-7, with income of up to PLN 4,300) equals 70% of the 2024 social minimum per child.
Why do fathers feel wronged?
- Non-payment statistics: 94% of debtors are men, and total debt exceeded PLN 16 billion at the end of 2024.
- The table’s progression makes the payment depend on earnings: the higher the gross income, the faster the support grows (10% for every PLN 800 up to PLN 8,300, then 15%).
- Deduction limits: the table recommends not exceeding 3/5 of salary, but many fathers work below their potential or in the grey economy in order to lower the base.
NET/GROSS table – what does it look like in your wallet?
The tables below show three income thresholds (PLN 4,300 – the minimum wage in the second half of 2024; PLN 8,300 – the upper limit of the “low” progression; PLN 9,200 – the average earnings threshold) and assume 1 child. “Left for living” = net income minus child support. Amounts are rounded to the nearest full zloty.
Ages 0-7
| Gross income | Net income | Child support | Left for living |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 300 | 3 262 | 1 004 | 2 258 |
| 8 300 | 5 988 | 1 506 | 4 482 |
| 9 200 | 6 601 | 1 657 | 4 944 |
Ages 8-11
| Gross income | Net income | Child support | Left for living |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 300 | 3 262 | 1 130 | 2 132 |
| 8 300 | 5 988 | 1 694 | 4 294 |
| 9 200 | 6 601 | 1 864 | 4 737 |
Ages 12-15
| Gross income | Net income | Child support | Left for living |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 300 | 3 262 | 1 255 | 2 007 |
| 8 300 | 5 988 | 1 883 | 4 105 |
| 9 200 | 6 601 | 2 071 | 4 530 |
Ages 16-18
| Gross income | Net income | Child support | Left for living |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 300 | 3 262 | 1 381 | 1 881 |
| 8 300 | 5 988 | 1 915 | 4 073 |
| 9 200 | 6 601 | 2 278 | 4 323 |
18+ years
| Gross income | Net income | Child support | Left for living |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 300 | 3 262 | 1 506 | 1 756 |
| 8 300 | 5 988 | 2 259 | 3 729 |
| 9 200 | 6 601 | 2 485 | 4 116 |
More children, bigger bill
With two or three children, the amounts rise more slowly, because the table reduces the rate by 7.5% for each additional child, but the total can still “eat up” a significant part of the salary. For example, in the 0-7 age group with an income of PLN 8,300, child support for three children amounts to PLN 1,280 each, i.e. PLN 3,840 in total, which is 64% of net income and close to the statutory 3/5 ceiling. In the 12-15 age group with earnings of PLN 9,200, the sum of PLN 5,745 (PLN 1,915 × 3) means that just over PLN 850 per person remains for living in a three-person household. Such figures show that in large families it is crucial to take into account the 3/5 limit and the real costs of maintaining each child, because a simple progression quickly turns into a burden that is hard to bear.
A gap in the government – no Ministry for Equality
In the July reshuffle, Prime Minister Donald Tusk abolished the post of minister for equality, and Katarzyna Kotula (The Left) lost her position, although she announced she would continue working as a secretary of state or plenipotentiary. Had she remained in government with ministerial rank, she could have pushed for an audit of the table from the perspective of gender neutrality, as well as for stronger safeguards for large families, for example through flexible thresholds or deductions modelled on the German system. The lack of a departmental voice on equality means that the debate about possible discrimination – especially against fathers covered by the progression – is now taking place mainly on social media.
Does the table really discriminate?
- No gender differentiation – the rates depend solely on gross amounts, not on the gender of the obligated parent.
- Statistics vs. practice – since it is mainly fathers who are subject to the maintenance obligation, men will more often feel the effects of the table, but with equal incomes a mother would pay exactly the same.
- The 3/5 mechanism – the protective deduction limit is meant to protect everyone, regardless of gender.
Frequently asked questions
- Will the table update old court rulings? No. A new proceeding and a demonstration of a change in circumstances are required.
- What about minimum wage increases? The Ministry of Justice intends to index the table every year after the publication of the social minimum.
- Is “under the table” income counted as net income? No; a court may assume higher “earning capacity” if it finds evidence.
The new table does not differentiate by gender in the algorithm itself, but in Polish conditions its burden will fall mainly on fathers, because they are the obligated parents in 9 out of 10 cases. For families with two or three children, the progression can quickly absorb most of the salary, which is why monitoring the 3/5 limit and annual reviews of the table are crucial. Will the lack of a ministerial voice on equality delay any necessary corrections?
Official child support table from the Ministry of Justice
Q&A on the child support table from the Ministry of Justice
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