Poland tells its citizens to cash in on British benefits

The Telegraph ^ | June 26, 2026 | Noah Eastwood

[MinorityRepublican]

The Polish government has told its citizens to cash in on British benefits before returning home.

Advice published on Powroty, a Polish government website for citizens living abroad who wish to return home, says "when leaving the UK, it is worth considering whether you are eligible for Jobseeker's Allowance".

Post-Brexit arrangements allow European Union citizens who acquired settled status before December 2020 to transfer some benefit payments abroad when they move to an EU country, for up to three months.

It means those returning to Europe can claim hundreds of pounds from the British taxpayer to support their job hunt, despite not searching for work in the UK.

Thousands of Poles have left Britain since Brexit, with many returning home to enjoy their country's growing economic fortunes.

Poland is attempting to lure back citizens and professionals to sustain an extraordinary period of economic growth that has narrowed the income gap with rival Western economies and reversed a sustained period of emigration – in particular to Britain, after Poland joined the EU.

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TOPICS: Editorial; European Union; Foreign Affairs; Government; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: axelspringer; cashin; eussr; fourthreich; noaheastwood; poland; torygraphsoldout

[Menes]

I don’t know. Most Polish people I know have too much decency to exploit the British state „just because it’s there for the taking“.

Sure, there might be a few exceptions, as everywhere, but I don’t expect many.

It’s another matter for those Poles who are actively looking for a job in Britain, who will need this money - after all, they have no income while their job-hunting is going on…

[dfwgator]

Poland is much better than Britain now, Poles should return home.

[spetznaz]

Human beings operate within a spectrum. If you’re a decent person, you probably mostly know decent people. Hence, your statement is true. In the same way I know decent Poles, decent Canadians, decent Ugandans, etc etc etc. However, I also know I don’t know every Pole, nor every Canadian, or every Ugandan. It is also quite likely that in nations of millions of people, the ones I know are but a small sub-set that is highly filtered.

Which is why I would not be surprised if there are many more who would not take advantage of a system that is open for the taking. Especially when it is as woefully vulnerable as the British system.

It may also explain why that publication is encouraging people to take advantage.

[Elsie]

We US citizens used to be decent as well...

But after years - nay DECADES! - of paying INTO the system, many finally got tired of being the sucker!

[Elsie]

https://vimeo.com/686280295?fl=pl&fe=cm#t=3s

not the original, but in many ways - better.

[Sir_Humphrey]

We US citizens used to be decent as well... But after years - nay DECADES! - of paying INTO the system, many finally got tired of being the sucker!

I'm at that point as well. While I oppose most governments, I'm going to take advantage of any handout that I can legally get. I'm at the point now where I can confidently say "if you're stupid enough to give it away,I'll be smart enough to take it. (The only caveat I'd add is that I will only do things legally as I do not advocate breaking the law or committing fraud) And please spare the sanctimonious bull crap about living by conservative principles. If you don't want me to exploit it, don't offer it.