Social Policy and Poverty Checking the Efficiency of the Social Assistance System in Poland

The present study examines the distribution and impact of the transfers directed, by definition, to the low-income population (hereafter, social assistance). During the period observed, both the volume and the number of recipients increased considerably. Those benefits appeared to be moderately effective as a tool to prevent the nonpoor from falling into poverty and relatively successful in supporting the poor in escaping from poverty. Most types of households exposed to a higher than average risk of poverty are more likely than other types to obtain social assistance while facing poverty. The analysis of behavioral responses confirmed the relatively high proportion of foregone income among the recipients.