An amendment dated 17 November, 2023, to the Act dated 07 July, 2023, Limiting certain Consequences of Identity Theft has been enacted, enabling any person to block their personal identification number (PESEL). This can be done at any municipal authority office or online on the e-government website obywatel.gov.pl. Blocking the PESEL number means that it cannot be used (for instance by fraudsters) to take out credit or a loan, or make purchases in installments without the holder’s knowledge and consent.
On 15 November, 2023, the Civil Code was amended with regard to regulation of inheritance cases. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of inheritance-related matters, and the new legislation is intended to shorten inheritance proceedings. Furthermore, according to the new law, a person can be deprived of succession if they permanently avoid paying child maintenance awarded by a court, in a court settlement, or in any other agreement. This applies also when a person permanently disregards their responsibility for custody over the testator. Other amendments address the issues of the document waiving succession and acceptance of succession. According to the new law, an heir has six months from the day on they learn of the death of the testator to submit the declaration waiving or accepting succession. However, this deadline is suspended if the submission of the declaration is subject to approval by a guardianship court.
On 17 November, 2023, a regulation issued by the Minister for Family and Social Policy was finally amended with respect to rules on health and safety at workstations equipped with display screens. The most important change is a requirement that at workstations with computers, the top edge of a display screen must be at eye level. Employers have six months to adapt workstations to the new requirements. Also, under the new law, employers are required to provide corrective eyeglasses and contact lenses for employees.
Neighborhood services for people in need are a new form of social aid introduced in a new law on social aid that came into force on 1 December, 2023. As of that day, municipal authorities may launch neighborhood services , and will then decide how such services should be offered, and to whom.
A municipal authority is required to specify, by way of a resolution, the type of such services and associated costs. Depending on individual needs and possibilities, it will also stipulate how next – door guardians cooperate. In most cases, this cooperation will be on the basis of contracts for work and services. Neighborhood services encompass rather simple activities such as cleaning up apartments, shopping, or keeping somebody company. This will not be a specialized type of care but assistance that anybody can provide.