Family support

Social security and support system

In order to ensure the wellbeing of families, the State has created and maintains a social security and support system allowing access to:

• paid maternity and paternity leave

• medical care for pregnant women, mothers and children

• family and child support and social benefits, including special support to disabled children and children left without parental care:

             - benefits to survivors and orphans in case of the death of a supporter

             - sickness, work injury and disability benefits

             - unemployment benefits

             - retirement benefits

You have the right to request and receive a particular benefit if the law gives you the right and you have fulfilled all the criteria set out in the law. You can request the benefit at the public institution responsible for the administration of the particular benefit, such as the National Social Insurance House or the relevant department of your municipality. You can appeal this decision to the Administrative court if the competent public institution rejects your request without legal grounds.

example You are entitled to a special monthly allowance if you have a child with disability. If this allowance is not paid to you, you may complain to the National Social Insurance House and, if it rejects your complaint, appeal that decision to the Administrative Court.

Amount of social benefits

If a certain benefit is provided for by law and you fulfil the criteria for requesting it, the State has to provide that benefit to you. However, human rights do not set any standards as to the specific amount of these social benefits. It means that the State can decide on that amount and regularly review it, taking into consideration various factors, such as the state and municipal budget resources available, the overall economic situation, the average living expenses in the country and other circumstances. Thus, the amount of social benefits for families is set by the State, but it should be regularly reviewed and progressively increased according to available resources.

note States should generally not decrease the amount of social security benefits. However, the state may reduce the amount of benefits, including those for families, in exceptional situations when the social and economic interests of other persons are endangered, for example, when there is an economic crisis. 

You can learn about the benefits that you are entitled to receive in the Law on the public system of social insurances, the Law on social assistance, the Law on the public system of pensions and the Law on state social benefits for children. You can also contact the competent public institution, for example, the National Social Insurance House or your municipality, for advice.