Social security laws in member states (and in Poland), independently of different systems of financing which they use - contributions or taxes - is failing to keep pace with developments brought about by the new forms of work. The social security system, however, mostly used in dealing with traditional social risks has not yet taken a systematic and comprehensive approach to the new social risks engendered by the new forms, which have arisen in about the last twenty years and have shown constant growth. Certainly, an attempt has been made during that time to look at the special needs for social protection among atypical workers. Thus it became clear that this branch of law has remained anchored to outmoded preconceptions, such as the notion that unemployment is a non-permanent state or outmoded concepts which do not apply in other sectors, such as for example the concept of the head of family. The social security systems of member states - at the Community level and also in Poland - in the cotext of the trend towards harmonising social security systems - should approach the new forms of work as a new phenomenon which is destined to expand. Digitalizacja i deponowanie archiwalnych zeszytów RPEiS sfinansowane przez MNiSW w ramach realizacji umowy nr 541/P-DUN/2016