In this paper the problem of poverty in the new countries of the EU is investigated. The issue of poverty before and after social transfers is discussed. Also presented are some of the social exclusion indicators pertinent to this analysis. The analysis has shown, that poverty results in social exclusion, as it impedes the performance of social roles and the use of public goods and social infrastructure. Average monetary poverty threat indicators for Poland are similar to values for the EU; but the median level of income in the European Union is three times higher than it is in Poland and product baskets vary considerably at the poverty threshold.