Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Europe, 2008

Slovak Republic

Exchange rate: US$1.00 equals 22.60 koruna.

Old Age, Disability, and Survivors

Regulatory Framework

First laws: 1906 (salaried employees) and 1924 (wage earners).

Current laws: 1998 (social assistance); 2003 (social insurance), implemented in 2004, with amendments; 2003 (employment services), implemented in 2004, with amendments; and 2004 (individual accounts), implemented in 2005.

Type of program: Social insurance and individual account system.

Note: A new system consisting of a social insurance first pillar plus a second pillar of individual accounts was implemented on January 1, 2005. All new entrants to the workforce are required to join the new two-pillar system. Workers covered before January 1, 2005, had the option to decide before June 30, 2006, whether to participate in the new system. Those not participating in the new system remain in the old social insurance system.

Coverage

Employed persons; civil servants; parliamentarians; persons caring for a child, including foster care; self-employed persons; cooperative workers; persons working in prison workshops; and directors of national enterprises.

Voluntary coverage for persons older than age 16 and self-employed persons with annual earnings less than 12 times the minimum monthly wage of 8,100 koruna.

Special systems for Slovak Intelligence Service personnel, Bureau of National Security personnel, members of the police force and the railway police force, fire brigade personnel, prison service personnel, customs officers, and professional armed forces personnel.

Source of Funds

Insured person: 4% of covered monthly earnings. Insured persons who are covered mandatorily make no contributions to the individual account.

Voluntarily insured persons contribute 18% of covered earnings, of which 9% of covered earnings goes to the individual account.

Pension fund administrators may charge up to a maximum of 1% of the voluntarily insured person's monthly contribution to the individual account and 0.07% of the average monthly net value of assets for monthly administrative fees. (Insured persons covered mandatorily do not pay monthly administrative fees.)

The minimum earnings for contribution purposes are equal to the minimum monthly wage of 8,100 koruna; 75% of the minimum monthly wage for employees with an assessed loss of earning capacity from 40% to 70%; 50% of the minimum monthly wage for employees with an assessed loss of earning capacity greater than 70% or for disabled employees younger than age 18; 75% of the minimum monthly wage for voluntarily insured persons older than age 16; 50% of the minimum monthly wage for voluntarily insured persons up to age 16.

The maximum earnings for contribution purposes are equal to three times the average monthly wage of 18,761 koruna.

Self-employed person: 18% of monthly earnings, of which 9% goes to the individual account.

Pension fund administrators may charge up to a maximum of 1% of the self-employed person's monthly contribution to the individual account and 0.07% of the average monthly net value of assets for monthly administrative fees.

The minimum earnings for contribution purposes are equal to the minimum monthly wage of 8,100 koruna; 75% of the minimum monthly wage for insured persons older than age 16; 50% of the minimum monthly wage for insured persons up to age 16.

The maximum earnings for contribution purposes are equal to three times the average monthly wage of 18,761 koruna.

Employer: 14% of monthly payroll, of which 9% of payroll goes to the employee's individual account.

Pension fund administrators may charge up to a maximum of 1% of the employer's monthly contribution to the employee's individual account and 0.08% (0.07% from 2008) of the average monthly net value of assets for monthly administrative fees.

The maximum earnings for contribution purposes are equal to three times the average monthly wage of 18,761 koruna.

Government: Any deficit; contributes 18% of 60% of the average monthly wage for old-age benefits on behalf of persons caring for children up to age 6 or for children with serious chronic health conditions up to age 18; 18% of 70% of the average monthly wage for old-age benefits on behalf of persons caring for sick children up to age 7; 6% of 60% of the average monthly wage for disability benefits on behalf of persons caring for children up to age 6; 6% of 70% of the average monthly wage for disability benefits on behalf of persons caring for sick children up to age 7.

The Social Insurance Agency contributes 18% of the reference salary on behalf of persons receiving disability benefits. The reference salary is a percentage of the minimum monthly wage that varies according to the assessed loss in the insured's earning capacity.

Qualifying Conditions

Old-age pension (social insurance and individual account): Age 62 (men) or age 56 and 9 months (women) with at least 10 years of coverage. (The retirement age for women is being raised gradually to age 62 by 2015.)

Old-age pensioners may continue to work.

Early pension (social insurance): Paid from 2 years before the normal pensionable age with at least 10 years of coverage. The monthly pension must be equal to at least 1.2 times the legal monthly subsistence minimum.

The legal subsistence minimum is the difference between specified sources of family income and actual income. The legal subsistence minimum is adjusted annually in July by the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family.

Early pension (individual account): The monthly pension must be equal to at least 0.6 times the legal monthly subsistence minimum.

Deferred pension (social insurance): There is no maximum deferral period.

Old-age benefits are payable abroad.

Disability pension (social insurance): The pension is paid with less than 1 year of coverage if aged 20 or younger; with at least 1 year of coverage if aged 21 or 22; with at least 2 years if aged 23 or 24; with at least 3 years if aged 25 or 26; with at least 4 years if aged 27 or 28; and with at least 5 years if older than age 28.

The pension is paid for a total disability (at least a 70% loss of earning capacity) or partial disability (at least a 40% loss of earning capacity).

Disability pensioners may continue to work.

A medical examiner of the Social Insurance Agency and a general practitioner assess the degree of disability.

Disability benefits are payable abroad.

Disability pension (individual account): No benefits are provided.

Survivor pension (social insurance and individual account): The deceased met the qualifying conditions for an old-age or disability pension or was a pensioner at the time of death.

Eligible survivors include a widow(er) who was married to the deceased and orphans.

Survivor benefits are payable abroad.

Old-Age Benefits

Old-age pension (social insurance): The monthly pension is equal to the product of the average personal wage point, the length of the coverage period, and the current pension value (195.31 koruna).

The average personal wage point is based on personal wage points earned during particular calendar years and the length of the coverage period. The maximum average personal wage point for pension calculation purposes is 3.

The personal wage point is based on a proportion of the insured's gross annual income in relation to the national average annual wage.

The insured's total covered earnings since 1994 are used for pension calculation purposes.

Early pension (social insurance): The old-age pension is reduced by 0.5% for each 30-day period the pension is received before the normal retirement age.

Deferred pension (social insurance): The old-age pension is increased by 0.5% for each 30-day period the pension is received after the normal retirement age.

There is no legal minimum monthly old-age pension.

There is no legal maximum monthly old-age pension.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually in July according to changes in the consumer price index and the national average wage.

Old-age pension (individual account): The pension depends on the value of the insured's contributions plus accrued interest. At retirement, the accumulated capital can be used to provide an immediate life annuity or temporary programmed withdrawals with a deferred life annuity.

Early pension (individual account): The pension depends on the value of the insured's contributions plus accrued interest. At retirement, the accumulated capital can be used to provide an immediate life annuity or temporary programmed withdrawals with a deferred life annuity.

Deferred pension (individual account): The pension depends on the value of the insured's contributions plus accrued interest. At retirement, the accumulated capital can be used to provide an immediate life annuity or temporary programmed withdrawals with a deferred life annuity.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Disability pension (social insurance): The monthly pension is equal to the product of the average personal wage point, the length of the coverage period, and the current pension value (195.31 koruna).

The personal wage point is based on a proportion of the insured's gross annual income in relation to the national average annual wage.

The insured's total covered earnings since 1994 are used for pension calculation purposes.

Partial disability: The disability pension is reduced according to the assessed loss of earning capacity.

There is no legal minimum monthly disability pension.

There is no legal maximum monthly disability pension.

The disability pension is replaced by the old-age pension at the normal retirement age.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually in July according to changes in the consumer price index and the national average wage.

Disability pension (individual account): No benefits are provided.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension (social insurance): The monthly pension is equal to 60% of the pension paid or payable to the deceased. The pension is paid for life if the survivor is disabled with an assessed loss in earning capacity of more than 70%, caring for a dependent child, or of pensionable age; otherwise, a limited pension is paid for up to 1 year (may be extended, subject to conditions).

There is no legal minimum monthly survivor pension.

The pension ceases on remarriage.

Orphan's pension (social insurance): Each orphan younger than the age at which they can leave school (age 26 if a full-time student or disabled) receives a monthly pension equal to 40% of the pension paid or payable to the deceased.

There is no legal minimum monthly orphan's pension.

All survivor benefits combined must not exceed 100% of the pension paid or payable to the deceased; otherwise, survivor pensions are reduced proportionately.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually in July according to changes in the consumer price index and the national average wage.

Survivor pension (individual account): If the deceased was younger than the normal retirement age, the survivors receive the value of the balance in the deceased's individual account. If the deceased was an old-age pensioner, eligible survivors receive 60% of the annuity paid to the deceased, plus any remaining balance in the deceased's individual account.

Administrative Organization

Social insurance: Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family (http://www.employment.gov.sk) provides supervision.

Social Insurance Agency (http://www.socpoist.sk), consisting of headquarters and 38 branch offices, administers the program and collects contributions.

Individual account: National Bank of Slovakia (http://www.nbs.sk) is responsible for the licensing and supervision of pension funds.

Licensed pension funds manage individual accounts.

Social Insurance Agency collects contributions.

Sickness and Maternity

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1888.

Current laws: 1994 (health insurance); 1994 (health care), implemented in 1995; 1995 (treatments); 1998 (medical products and devices); 1998 (funeral grant), implemented in 1999; 1998 (childbirth allowance), implemented in 1999; 2003 (social insurance), implemented in 2004, with amendments; 2003 (income replacement), implemented in 2004; 2004 (health care and services); and 2004 (health insurance).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Cash sickness and maternity benefits: Employed and self-employed persons.

Voluntary coverage for persons older than age 16 and self-employed persons with annual earnings less than 12 times the minimum monthly wage of 8,100 koruna.

Medical benefits: Universal coverage.

Exclusions: Persons insured abroad and non-Slovak citizens working in the Slovak Republic for employers with diplomatic privilege.

Source of Funds

Insured person

Cash benefits: 1.4% of covered monthly earnings; voluntarily insured persons contribute 4.4% of declared monthly earnings.

Medical benefits: 4% of covered monthly earnings.

The minimum earnings for contribution purposes are equal to the minimum monthly wage of 8,100 koruna; 75% of the minimum monthly wage for employees with an assessed loss of earning capacity from 40% to 70% and for juvenile employees older than age 16; 50% of the minimum monthly wage for employees with an assessed loss of earning capacity greater than 70% or for disabled employees younger than age 18.

The maximum earnings for contribution purposes for cash benefits are 1.5 times the average monthly wage of 18,761 koruna.

The maximum earnings for contribution purposes for medical benefits are three times the average monthly wage of 18,761 koruna.

Self-employed person

Cash benefits: 4.4% of declared covered monthly earnings.

Medical benefits: 14% of declared covered monthly earnings.

Declared monthly earnings are equal to 50% of average monthly taxable income of the previous year.

The maximum earnings for contribution purposes for cash benefits are 1.5 times the average monthly wage of 18,761 koruna.

The maximum earnings for contribution purposes for medical benefits are three times the average monthly wage of 18,761 koruna.

Employer

Cash benefits: 1.4% of monthly covered payroll.

Medical benefits: 10% of monthly covered payroll.

The maximum earnings for contribution purposes for cash benefits are 1.5 times the average monthly wage of 18,761 koruna.

The maximum earnings for contribution purposes for medical benefits are three times the average monthly wage of 18,761 koruna.

Government: Finances any deficit; contributes 4% of the average monthly wage on behalf of children, students, pensioners, registered unemployed persons, women on maternity leave, persons on parental leave, persons caring for disabled persons, social assistance beneficiaries, persons in basic military or civil service, prisoners, and persons granted political asylum.

Qualifying Conditions

Cash sickness benefits: Paid for a temporary incapacity for work; self-employed persons and voluntarily insured persons must also have at least 270 days of coverage in the 2 years before the incapacity began. The insured must not be receiving the maternity benefit or the parental allowance.

Cash maternity benefits: The insured must have 270 days of coverage in the 2 years before the expected date of childbirth. The benefit can also be paid to the child's father, the husband of the child's mother, and other persons subject to conditions.

Pregnancy compensation allowance: Paid to women who are exempt from some types of work while pregnant and who are redeployed by their employer to another job paying lower wages.

Medical benefits: There is no minimum qualifying period.

Sickness and Maternity Benefits

Sickness benefit: For the first 3 days, the benefit is equal to 25% of the daily assessment basis; thereafter, 55% of the daily assessment basis. The employer pays the benefit for the first 10 days. (The Social Insurance Agency pays benefits for self-employed persons and voluntarily insured persons from the first day of incapacity.) The benefit is paid for up to 52 weeks.

55% of the daily assessment basis is paid for up to 10 days to provide care for a family member.

The daily assessment basis is based on earnings in the last year before the incapacity began. The maximum assessment basis is equal to 1.5 times the average monthly wage (18,761 koruna).

A flat-rate benefit is also paid for chronic suffering, depending on the insured's assessed medical condition.

Maternity benefit: The benefit is paid from 6 to 8 weeks before the expected date of childbirth and is equal to 55% of the daily assessment basis. The benefit is paid for a total of 28 weeks; 37 weeks for a single mother and for multiple births; 22 weeks for a substitute carer; 31 weeks for a single parent or substitute carer rearing at least two newborn children; or for at least 14 weeks if the child dies.

The daily assessment basis is based on earnings in the last year before the expected date of childbirth.

Pregnancy compensation allowance: The allowance is equal to 55% of the difference between the earnings before and after job transfer. The benefit is paid until the end of the 9th month after childbirth.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Medical benefits include medical treatment, hospitalization, medicines, dental care (with limited cost sharing), maternity care, appliances, travel expenses, sanatorium, spa treatment, preventive examinations, vaccination, dispensary care, and convalescent stays for selected professions.

There is no cost sharing for medical consultations for children up to age 6; for blood donors; for patients in dispensary care up to age 18; for disabled patients; for maternity care; for patients with mental disorders; or for patients receiving renal, cardiac, or cancer treatments.

Pharmaceutical products are free of charge or partially reimbursed, according to the schedule in law. There are no annual ceilings or limits.

There is no limit to duration.

Dependents' Medical Benefits

Pharmaceutical products are free of charge or partially reimbursed, according to the schedule in law. There are no annual ceilings or limits.

There is no limit to duration.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family (http://www.employment.gov.sk) provides supervision.

Social Insurance Agency (http://www.socpoist.sk), consisting of headquarters and 38 branch offices, administers the cash benefit program.

Ministry of Health (http://www.health.gov.sk) and the Health Care Supervision Authority administer medical benefits provided through health centers and clinics.

Work Injury

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1887.

Current laws: 1965 (compensation); 1965 (minimum requirements); 1986 (dangerous work); 2001 (workplace security and health); 2001 (labor code), implemented in 2002; 2003 (income tax), implemented in 2004; and 2003 (social insurance), implemented in 2004, with amendments.

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employed persons, students, voluntary fire fighters, members of mining rescue teams, voluntary workers of the Slovak Red Cross, and voluntary members of the mountain rescue service.

There is no voluntary coverage.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons.

Special systems for police and armed forces personnel.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.

Self-employed person: Not applicable.

Employer: 0.8% of gross payroll.

There are no minimum earnings for contribution purposes.

There are no maximum earnings for contribution purposes.

Government: Any deficit and the cost of spa treatment.

Qualifying Conditions

Work injury benefits: There is no minimum qualifying period. Benefits are paid for 47 occupational diseases, according to the schedule in law. Accidents that occur while commuting to and from work are not covered.

Temporary Disability Benefits

Temporary disability benefit: From the 1st to the 3rd day of incapacity, the benefit is equal to 55% of the insured's daily assessment basis; thereafter, 25% of the insured's daily assessment basis.

The daily assessment basis is based on earnings in the last year before the disability began.

Rehabilitation benefit: The benefit is equal to 80% of the insured's daily assessment basis and is paid during occupational rehabilitation.

The daily assessment basis is based on earnings in the last year before the disability began.

Retraining benefit: The benefit is equal to 80% of the insured's daily assessment basis and is paid during retraining.

The daily assessment basis is based on earnings in the last year before the disability began.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Permanent disability benefit: If the insured has an assessed loss of earning capacity of at least 40%, the monthly benefit is equal to the product of the assessment basis (30.4167 times the insured's daily assessment basis) and 80% of the assessed degree of disability.

The daily assessment basis is based on earnings in the last year before the disability began.

A medical examiner of the Social Insurance Agency and a general practitioner assess the degree of disability.

Partial permanent disability: The benefit is paid for an assessed loss of earning capacity from 10% to 39% and is equal to the product of the assessment basis (365 times the daily assessment basis) and the assessed degree of disability.

The daily assessment basis is based on earnings in the last year before the disability began.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually in July according to changes in the consumer price index and the national average wage.

Workers' Medical Benefits

All necessary medical services are provided directly to patients through Health Care Supervision Authority facilities.

Compensation is provided for specified nonreimbursed costs for treatment, up to a maximum of 500,000 koruna.

There is no limit to duration.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: The monthly pension is equal to 60% of the pension paid or payable to the deceased. The pension is paid for life if the survivor is disabled with an assessed loss in earning capacity of more than 70%, caring for a dependent child, or of pensionable age; otherwise, a limited pension is paid for up to 1 year (may be extended, subject to conditions).

There is no legal minimum monthly survivor pension.

The pension ceases on remarriage.

Survivor lump-sum benefit: A lump sum equal to 730 times the daily gross earnings of the deceased is paid to the surviving spouse and children, up to a maximum of 1 million koruna.

Orphan's pension: Each orphan younger than the age at which they can leave school (age 26 if a full-time student or disabled) receives a monthly pension equal to 40% of the pension paid or payable to the deceased.

There is no legal minimum monthly orphan's pension.

All periodic survivor benefits combined must not exceed 100% of the pension paid or payable to the deceased; otherwise, survivor pensions are reduced proportionately.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually in July according to changes in the consumer price index and the national average wage.

Funeral grant: Up to a maximum of 50,000 koruna is paid to the person who paid the cost of the funeral.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family (http://www.employment.gov.sk) provides supervision.

Social Insurance Agency (http://www.socpoist.sk), consisting of headquarters and 38 branch offices, administers the program.

Ministry of Health (http://www.health.gov.sk) and the Health Care Supervision Authority administer medical benefits provided through health centers and clinics.

Unemployment

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1991.

Current laws: 2003 (social insurance), implemented in 2004; 2004 (employment services), implemented in 2005; and 2005.

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Unemployed job seekers.

Voluntary coverage for self-employed persons and persons up to age 16 residing in the Slovak Republic.

Special systems for police force personnel and armed forces personnel.

Source of Funds

Insured person: 1% of covered earnings; voluntarily insured persons contribute 2% of declared covered earnings.

The minimum earnings for contribution purposes are equal to the minimum monthly wage of 8,100 koruna; 75% of the minimum monthly wage for employees with an assessed loss of earning capacity from 40% to 70% and employees older than age 16; 50% of the minimum monthly wage for employees with an assessed loss of earning capacity greater than 70% or for disabled employees younger than age 18.

The maximum earnings for contribution purposes are equal to three times the average monthly wage of 18,761 koruna.

Self-employed person: Not applicable.

Employer: 1% of covered payroll.

The maximum earnings for contribution purposes are equal to three times the average monthly wage of 18,761 koruna.

Government: Any deficit.

Qualifying Conditions

Unemployment benefit: The insured must register with the labor office as a job seeker and have at least 3 years of contributions in the last 4 years.

Unemployment Benefits

The benefit is equal to 50% of the daily assessment basis and is paid for up to 6 months.

The daily assessment basis is based on earnings in the 3 years before unemployment, up to a maximum of three times the average monthly wage of 18,761 koruna.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family (http://www.employment.gov.sk) provides supervision.

Social Insurance Agency (http://www.socpoist.sk), consisting of headquarters and 38 branch offices, administers the program.

Family Allowances

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1945.

Current laws: 1998 (funeral grant), implemented in 1999; 1998 (birth allowance), implemented in 1999; 1998 (foster care), implemented in 1999; 1998 (maintenance benefit), implemented in 1999; 1998 (social assistance); 2002 (parental allowance); 2003 (income tax), implemented in 2004; 2003 (child allowances), implemented in 2004; 2003 (employment services), implemented in 2004; 2004 (alimony); 2005 (child care benefits); and 2005 (family).

Type of program: Universal system.

Coverage

Permanent or temporary residents of the Slovak Republic.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.

Self-employed person: None.

Employer: None.

Government: The total cost.

Qualifying Conditions

Child allowance: Paid for a child up to age 16 (age 18 for a child with chronic health problems, age 25 if a full-time student or disabled).

Parental allowance: Paid for providing care for at least one child up to age 3 (age 6 with chronic health problems). The child must not attend a nursery. A foster parent must not be in receipt of the maternity benefit.

Birth allowance: Paid for the birth of a child to parents residing permanently in the Slovak Republic.

Supplement to birth allowance: Paid for the birth of the first child. The child must have lived at least 28 days.

Multiple birth allowance: Paid to parents on the birth of triplets or more children or the birth of two sets of twins in a 2-year period. The family must reside in the Slovak Republic and have at least three children younger than age 15.

Funeral grant: Paid to the person who paid for the funeral.

Family Allowance Benefits

Child allowance: 540 koruna a month is paid for each child.

Parental allowance: 4,560 koruna a month is paid.

Birth allowance: A lump sum of 4,560 koruna is paid for each child; for multiple births of three or more children (or the birth of two sets of twins in a 2-year period) the lump sum is increased by 50% for each child surviving at least 28 days (if the number of surviving children is two or more).

Multiple birth allowance: 2,470 koruna a month is paid for a child up to age 6; 3,050 koruna if aged 7 to 15; and 3,240 koruna if older than age 15.

Funeral grant: A lump sum of 2,400 koruna is paid.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family (http://www.employment.gov.sk) provides supervision.