What and why would anyone need a PESEL Number?

Hello,

I have not got a PESEL number, I do not think I need one. I know the government is thinking of getting rid of them but I will not hold my breath on that one.

Considering that there are 2 Million Poles who have just left and I am sure a lot of them did not deregister.
This is obviously some sort of communist control because it serves no purpose as far as I can see.
I find my passport works well for everything and anything else I buy through the company, so what and why would anyone need a PESEL number?

A pesel is the same as our NI number. In Poland you are given this number at birth and use it for healthcare, identity etc.

I am living abroad but when I was there for X-mas I made sure I reapplied, or rather renew my ID with the office. I really don't need it now but I know that I might in the future, so even though I am a citizen of Poland living abroad I make sure my papers are in order. I have learnt that lesson a long time ago.

In your case you might not need one. It depends on your status is.

In some Municipalities in Poland, are introduced special web-platforms, which provides access to wide range of City Offices, you can send some drafts or documents via net, you don't need to go by foot to some places, just send it, and you'll receive answers and results, sooner. PESEL is usually your nick or password.

Next, e.g. at uni or in library, PESEL is used as your Password, look at the WKLBN - you have there the biggest libraries in Lublin, i.e. Maria Curie Skłodowska University, Catholic University of Lublin, Municipal and Regional Library, Polytechnics, Medical University, Agricultural University and others...

Thanks to PESEL, students have those services centralised.


You're wrong, they want to upgrade it to the PESEL2... because PESEL (ver. 1) has some technological restrictions...

Probably, you thought about "Meldunek" (Propiska) - those are informations about place of residence...it differs to PESEL, Meldunek is a Communist relict, and Polish rulers want to import legal solutions similar (the same) to those in UK...

Sometimes, I think, they forcefully want to make Poland, the Second UK...

I think many countries have their own "magic number" - the problem for me is when lazy software designers use it to try to identify people uniquely in the programs they're writing - especially where there's a database involved. I know I overheard some analysts, a few years ago, confidently deciding "we'll use PESEL as the primary key - everyone has one".

Once that decision has been made, the end-user of the package has little choice ...

I had a spate of out-patient hospital visits about 5 years ago, and each time I went to register my visit I had to provide my "fake" PESEL so I could be entered into the computerised system. The ladies at the desk made it up for me on my first visit :) Thank heavens the programmers hadn't put in some silly detailed validation of how a PESEL should be formed because this one had a lot of zeroes. But it seemed to keep everyone happy ...

/cj

I have had this situation myself, I do not think Polish people "believe" in all these numbers, do not get me wrong a good Pole has their paper work in order but they they will ask you your date of birth and Wham! you have a fake PESEL number.

In Ireland I remember having a P60/P45 (Same thing I think), which is the old form that you get when you leave a job. That is the only number I remember having. We do not even have post codes ha ha ha.

---

"Where am I?"
"In the Village."
"What do you want?"
"Information."
"Whose side are you on?"
"That would be telling…. We want information. Information! INFORMATION!"
"You won't get it."
"By hook or by crook, we will."
"Who are you?"
"The new Number Two."
"Who is Number One?"
"You are Number Six."
"I am not a number — I am a free man!"
(Laughter from Number Two.)