Slovakia

Old Age, Disability, and Survivors

Regulatory Framework

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

Current laws: 1998 (funeral grant), implemented in 1999; 2003 (social insurance), implemented in 2004; 2003 (employment services), implemented in 2004; and 2004 (individual accounts), implemented in 2005.

Type of program: Universal (funeral grant), social insurance, and individual account system.

Note: Since January 1, 2013, participation in the individual account program is voluntary for new entrants to the labor force. The decision to contribute to an individual account must be made before age 35 and cannot be reversed.

Coverage

Universal (funeral grant): Residents of Slovakia.

Social insurance and individual account system: Employed persons, and self-employed persons with annual earnings greater than 12 times the minimum monthly assessment basis.

The minimum monthly assessment basis is €456.

Voluntary coverage is available.

Special systems for certain intelligence, security, police, fire, customs, and military personnel.

Source of Funds

Insured person

Universal (funeral grant): None.

Social insurance: 4% of gross monthly covered earnings (old age) plus 3% (disability). Voluntarily insured persons also pay the employer's contributions.

There are no minimum earnings used to calculate contributions for employed persons.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions for voluntarily insured persons are €456.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are €6,384.

Individual account: None. Voluntarily insured persons pay the employer's contribution.

Self-employed person

Universal (funeral grant): None.

Social insurance: 18% of monthly covered declared earnings (old age) plus 6% (disability) for social insurance only; 13.5% (gradually decreasing by 0.25% a year until reaching 12% in 2024) of monthly covered declared earnings (old age) plus 6% (disability) for social insurance and individual account.

The monthly declared earnings for self-employed persons with compulsory coverage is 1/1.486 of average monthly taxable income from the previous year. The voluntarily insured can choose their declared income.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are €456.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are €6,384.

Individual account: 4.5% (gradually rising by 0.25% a year until reaching 6% in 2024) of earnings plus administrative fees.

Employer

Universal (funeral grant): None.

Social insurance: 14% of gross monthly covered payroll (old age) plus 3% (disability) for insured persons who participate in social insurance only; 9.5% (gradually decreasing by 0.25% a year until reaching 8% in 2024) of gross monthly covered payroll (old age) plus 3% (disability) for insured persons who participate in social insurance and individual accounts.

There are no minimum earnings used to calculate contributions.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are €6,384.

Individual account: 4.5% (gradually rising by 0.25% a year until reaching 6% in 2024) of gross monthly payroll for insured persons with individual accounts.

Government

Universal (funeral grant): The total cost.

Social insurance: Finances any deficit; contributes for persons caring for children up to age 6 (age 18 with serious chronic health conditions), for maternity benefit recipients, and for disability benefit recipients (until the normal retirement age or until the early retirement pension is paid).

Individual account: Contributes for persons caring for children up to age 6 (age 18 with serious chronic health conditions), for maternity benefit recipients, and for disability benefit recipients (until retirement age or until the early retirement pension is paid).

Qualifying Conditions

Old-age pension (social insurance): Age 62 and 139 days (gradually rising based on increases in life expectancy) with at least 15 years of coverage. The retirement age is reduced for women with children and under certain other circumstances.

Employment may continue.

Guaranteed minimum old-age pension: Paid at the normal retirement age with at least 30 years of coverage if the insured's total monthly pension income (including from social insurance, individual accounts, and abroad) is less than the monthly minimum.

The monthly minimum is 136% of the legal monthly subsistence minimum plus 2% for each year of coverage from 30 to 39 years and 3% for each year of coverage exceeding 39 years.

The legal monthly subsistence minimum is €199.48.

Early pension: Paid from two years before the normal retirement age with at least 15 years of coverage. The total monthly early pension from social insurance and the individual account must be at least 1.2 times the legal monthly subsistence minimum.

The legal monthly subsistence minimum is €199.48.

The legal subsistence minimum is adjusted annually in July by the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family.

Employment or self-employment must cease.

Deferred pension: The pension may be deferred. There is no age limit.

The old-age pension is payable abroad

Compensation allowance (social insurance): Must have at least 25 years of coverage before the dissolution of the Czech-Slovak Federative Republic on January 1, 1993, at least one year of coverage from 1993 to 2003, and have claimed all other pensions to which the insured was entitled.

Old-age pension (individual account): Age 62 years and 139 days (gradually rising based on increases in life expectancy) with at least 15 years of coverage. The retirement age is reduced for women with children and under certain other circumstances.

Early pension: The total monthly early pension from social insurance and the individual account must be at least 1.2 times the legal monthly subsistence minimum.

The legal monthly subsistence minimum is €199.48.

The legal subsistence minimum is adjusted annually in July by the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family.

Deferred pension: The pension may be deferred. There is no age limit.

The old-age pension is payable abroad.

Disability pension (social insurance): Must be assessed with a total disability (at least a 70% loss of earning capacity). The pension is paid with less than one year of coverage if younger than age 21; with at least one year if aged 21 to 24; with at least two years if aged 25 to 28; with at least five years if aged 29 to 34; with at least eight years if aged 35 to 40; with at least 10 years if aged 41 to 45; or with at least 15 years if aged 46 or older. The insured must not qualify for an old-age pension.

Partial pension: Must be assessed with at least a 40% but less than a 70% loss of earning capacity.

Disability pensioners may continue to work.

A medical examiner of the Social Insurance Agency assess the degree of disability.

The disability pension ceases at the normal retirement age and is replaced by an old-age pension of the same value. The pension is increased to the value of the minimum old-age pension if it was lower.

The disability pension is payable abroad.

Survivor pension (social insurance): The deceased received or was entitled to receive a social insurance old-age or disability pension or qualified for an early social insurance old-age pension at the time of death. There is no minimum qualifying period if the insured's death was the result of a work injury or an occupational disease.

Eligible survivors include a widow(er) who was married to the deceased, children younger than the age at which they can legally leave school (age 26 if a full-time student or disabled).

The widower(er)'s pension ceases upon remarriage.

The survivor pension is payable abroad.

Survivor pension (individual account): Paid if the account holder died before receiving a benefit from the individual account, if they had received less than 84 monthly annuity payments, or if the annuity provided insurance for survivors.

The survivor pension is payable abroad.

Funeral grant (príspevok na pohreb, universal): Paid to the person who paid for the funeral.

Old-Age Benefits

Old-age pension (social insurance): The monthly pension is the product of the average personal wage point, the years of coverage, and the current pension value (€11.9379).

The average personal wage point is the insured's total personal wage points earned during particular calendar years of coverage divided by the total years of coverage. The maximum average personal wage point is three.

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

The insured's total covered earnings since 1984 are used to calculate the pension.

Guaranteed minimum old-age pension: The difference between the insured's total monthly pension income and the monthly minimum is paid.

The monthly minimum is 136% of the legal monthly subsistence minimum plus 2% for each year of coverage from 30 to 39 years and 3% for each year of coverage exceeding 39 years.

The legal monthly subsistence minimum is €199.48.

The legal subsistence minimum is adjusted annually in July by the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family.

There is no maximum old-age pension.

Early pension: The old-age pension is reduced by 0.5% for each 30-day period the pension is claimed before the normal retirement age.

Deferred pension: The old-age pension is increased by 0.5% for each 30-day period the pension is claimed after the normal retirement age.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually in January based on changes in the pensioner consumer price index; until 2021, each increase must be at least 2%.

Compensation allowance (social insurance): The difference between the value of all pensions received and the old-age social insurance pension the insured would be entitled to receive based on total years of coverage (including years prior to 1993 when the current system was not in place) is paid.

Old-age pension (individual account): The account holder has three payment options: a life annuity, a fixed-term annuity, or programmed withdrawals. Life insurance companies pay annuities. Pension management companies pay programmed withdrawals.

Early pension: Calculated in the same way as the old-age pension (individual account). Life insurance companies take into account the age of account holder.

Deferred pension: Calculated in the same way as the old-age pension (individual account). Life insurance companies take into account the age of account holder.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Disability pension (social insurance): The monthly pension is the product of the average personal wage point, the length of the coverage period, and the current pension value (€11.9379).

The average personal wage point is the insured's total personal wage points earned during particular calendar years of coverage divided by the total years of coverage. The maximum average personal wage point is three.

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

The insured's total covered earnings since 1984 are used to calculate the pension.

Partial disability: A percentage of the full disability pension is paid based on the assessed degree of disability.

There is no minimum monthly disability pension.

There is no maximum monthly disability pension.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually in January based on changes in the pensioner consumer price index; until 2021, each increase must be at least 2%.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension (social insurance)

Spouse's pension: 60% of the social insurance old-age or disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid. The pension is paid for one year; for life if the survivor has a disability with an assessed loss of earning capacity of at least 70%, cares for a dependent child, has raised at least three children, is at least age 52 and has raised two children, or has reached the normal retirement age.

There is no minimum survivor pension.

Orphan's pension: 40% of the social insurance old-age or disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid to eligible children.

There is no minimum orphan's pension.

The maximum combined survivor benefit is 100% of the social insurance old-age or disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually in January based on changes in the pensioner consumer price index; the increase is at least 2%.

Survivor pension (individual account): If the account holder dies before receiving a benefit from the individual account, the value of the balance is paid. If the deceased was an old-age pensioner receiving a life annuity but had received less than 84 monthly payments, the difference between the sum of 84 monthly payments and the amount already received is paid. If the deceased bought an annuity with insurance for survivors, a survivor pension of the same amount as the deceased's pension is paid for the specified period (one or two years).

Funeral grant (príspevok na pohreb, universal): A lump sum of €79.67 is paid.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family (https://www.employment.gov.sk/) provides supervision of the social insurance and universal programs.

Social Insurance Agency (https://www.socpoist.sk/) administers the social insurance program and collects contributions for the social insurance and individual account programs.

Central Office of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family (https://www.upsvar.sk/) administers the universal program.

National Bank of Slovakia (https://www.nbs.sk/) licenses and supervises pension funds for the individual account program.

Licensed pension management companies (http://www.adss.sk/) manage the individual accounts.

Sickness and Maternity

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1888.

Current laws: 2003 (social insurance), implemented in 2004; 2003 (income replacement), implemented in 2004; 2004 (health care and services); 2004 (health insurance); 2011 (medical products and devices); and 2013 (childbirth allowances), implemented in 2014.

Type of program: Universal (medical benefits) and social insurance (cash benefits) system.

Coverage

Universal (medical benefits): Residents of Slovakia and employed persons.

Exclusions: Persons insured abroad and non-Slovak citizens working in Slovakia for employers with diplomatic privileges.

Social insurance (cash benefits): Employed persons; and self-employed persons with annual earnings greater than 12 times the minimum monthly assessment basis.

The minimum monthly assessment basis is €456.

Voluntary coverage is available for persons with voluntary coverage for old-age, disability, and survivor benefits.

Special systems for certain intelligence, security, police, fire, customs, and military personnel.

Source of Funds

Insured person

Universal: 4% of gross monthly earnings.

There are no minimum or maximum earnings used to calculate contributions.

Social insurances: 1.4% of gross monthly covered earnings; 4.4% of monthly covered declared income for the voluntarily insured.

There are no minimum earnings used to calculate contributions for employees.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions for the voluntarily insured are €456.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are €6,384.

Self-employed person

Universal: 14% of gross monthly covered declared income.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are €456.

There are no maximum earnings used to calculate contributions.

Social insurance: 4.4% of the monthly covered declared income.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions is €456.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions is €6,384.

Employer

Universal: 10% of gross monthly payroll.

There are no minimum or maximum earnings used to calculate contributions.

Social insurance: 1.4% of gross monthly covered payroll.

There are no minimum earnings used to calculate contributions.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are €6,384.

Government

Universal: Contributes for nonemployed persons, and finances any deficit of the General Health Insurance Company.

Social insurance: Finances any deficit.

Qualifying Conditions

Cash sickness benefit (social insurance): Paid for a temporary incapacity for work; voluntarily insured persons must also have at least 270 days of coverage in the two years before the incapacity began. The insured must not be receiving the maternity benefit.

Care for a sick relative benefit (osetrovné, social insurance): There is no minimum qualifying period for salaried workers; self-employed must not have outstanding contributions; voluntarily insured must have 270 days of contributions in the last two years. Must be caring for a sick child, spouse, parent or parent-in-law, or a healthy child younger than age 11.

Cash maternity benefit (social insurance): Must have at least 270 days of coverage in the two years before the date of childbirth. The benefit can also be paid to the child's father, the husband of the child's mother, and to certain other persons.

Birth allowance and multiple birth allowance (universal): See Family Allowances. Equalization benefit (social insurance): Paid to women who are exempt from some types of work while pregnant and who are transferred by their employers to other jobs paying lower wages.

Medical benefits (universal): There is no minimum qualifying period.

Sickness and Maternity Benefits

Sickness benefit (social insurance): For employees, 55% of the daily assessment basis is paid from the 11th day of the temporary incapacity for work (the employer pays a benefit for the first 10 days). For self-employed and voluntarily insured persons, 25% of the daily assessment basis is paid for the first three days; thereafter, 55%. The benefit is paid for up to 52 weeks.

The daily assessment basis is the insured's average daily earnings in the last year before the incapacity began.

Care for a sick relative benefit (osetrovné, social insurance): 55% of the daily assessment basis is paid from the first day of nursing for up to 10 days.

The daily assessment basis is the insured's average daily earnings in the last year before the care leave began.

Maternity benefit (social insurance): 75% of the daily assessment basis is paid from six to eight weeks before the expected date of childbirth for a total of 34 weeks (37 weeks for a single mother; 43 weeks for multiple births).

The daily assessment basis is the insured's average daily earnings in the last year before receiving the benefit.

Birth allowance and multiple birth allowance (universal): See Family Allowances.

Equalization benefit (social insurance): 55% of the difference between the insured woman's earnings before and after job transfer is paid until the end of the ninth month after childbirth.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Medical benefits include medical treatment, hospitalization, medicine, 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.

Medicine is free of charge or partially reimbursed, according to a schedule in law. There are no annual ceilings or limits. There is no limit to duration.

Cost sharing: Part of the cost for transportation (€0.07 per kilometer by ambulance); up to €3.32 a day for accompanying a person to hospital; €1.99 for emergency medical care; and €0.17 for every prescription submitted to a pharmacy for processing.

Dependents' Medical Benefits

Medical benefits for dependents are the same as those for the insured.

Administrative Organization

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

Social Insurance Agency (https://www.socpoist.sk/) administers and collects contributions for the cash benefit program.

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

Health Insurance Companies administer and collect contributions for medical benefits.

Work Injury

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1887.

Current laws: 2001 (labor code), implemented in 2002; 2003 (income tax), implemented in 2004; 2003 (social insurance), implemented in 2004; 2004 (compensation); 2006 (minimum requirements); and 2006 (workplace security and health).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employed persons, students, and certain voluntary fire fighters and rescue workers.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons.

Special systems for police and military personnel.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.

Self-employed person: Not applicable.

Employer: 0.8% of gross monthly payroll.

There are no minimum or maximum earnings used to calculate contributions.

Government: Finances any deficit.

Qualifying Conditions

Must be assessed with a work injury or occupational disease. Benefits are paid for 47 occupational diseases, according to a schedule in law. Accidents that occur while commuting to and from work are not covered.

Temporary Disability Benefits

Temporary disability supplement: 55% of the daily assessment basis is paid from the first to the third day of incapacity; thereafter, 25%. The insured must be unable to work.

The daily assessment basis is the insured's average daily earnings in the last year before the disability began.

The temporary disability supplement is paid in addition to the cash sickness benefit (see sickness and maternity).

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

The daily assessment basis is the insured's average daily earnings in the last year before the disability began.

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

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

In-kind benefits are also paid for professional rehabilitation. Lump sums are paid for compensation for pain and difficulties with social reintegration following a work injury or occupational disease.

Permanent Disability Benefits

For an assessed loss of earning capacity of greater than 40%, the monthly benefit is 80% of 30.4167 times the daily assessment basis multiplied by the assessed loss of earning capacity.

The daily assessment basis is the insured's average daily earnings in the last year before the disability began.

If the beneficiary receives the disability pension (see Old Age, Disability, and Survivors), the work injury permanent disability benefit is decreased by the amount of the disability pension.

The permanent disability benefit ceases at the normal retirement age and is replaced by the social insurance old-age pension.

Partial disability: For an assessed loss of earning capacity of 10% to 40%, a lump sum of 365 times the daily assessment basis multiplied by the assessed loss of earning capacity is paid.

The daily assessment basis is the insured's average daily earnings in the last year before the disability began.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Health care centers and clinics provide all necessary medical services directly to patients.

The insured is reimbursed up to €27,286.90 for the cost of treatment for a work accident or occupational disease.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pensions are paid under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.

Survivor lump-sum benefit (jednorazové odskodnenie): 730 times the deceased's daily assessment basis is paid to the surviving spouse, up to €54,573.30. Children receive 50% of the amount paid to the surviving spouse, up to €54,573.30. The lump-sum benefit is reduced proportionately if the deceased had more than two children.

The daily assessment basis is the insured's average daily earnings in the last year before the disability began.

Divorced survivor's benefit: A pension equal to the alimony amount is paid to divorced spouses who receive alimony (based on a court ruling) at the date of the insured's death. The benefit ceases when the deceased would have reached the normal retirement age.

Funeral grant: A lump sum of up to €2,729.30 is paid to the person who paid for the funeral.

Administrative Organization

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

Social Insurance Agency (https://www.socpoist.sk/) administers and collects contributions for the cash benefit program.

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

Health Insurance Companies administer and collect contributions for medical benefits.

Unemployment

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1991.

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

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employed persons.

Voluntary coverage for persons with voluntary coverage for cash sickness and old-age, disability, and survivor benefits; and self-employed persons legally residing in Slovakia who are currently or were previously covered for mandatory cash sickness and old age, disability, and survivors insurance.

Source of Funds

Insured person: 1% of gross monthly covered earnings; 2% of monthly covered declared income for the voluntarily insured.

There are no minimum earnings used to calculate contributions for employees.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions for the voluntarily insured is €456.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are €6,384.

Self-employed persons: 2% of the monthly covered declared income.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions is €456.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions is €6,384.

Employer: 1% of gross monthly covered payroll.

There are no minimum earnings used to calculate contributions.

The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are €6,384.

Government: Finances any deficit.

Qualifying Conditions

Unemployment benefit: Must register with the labor office as a job seeker and have at least two years of contributions in the last four years.

Special allowance (Osobitný príspevok, social assistance, means tested): See Family Allowances.

Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment benefit: 50% of the daily assessment basis is paid for up to six months.

The daily assessment basis is the insured's average daily covered earnings in the two years before unemployment.

Special allowance (Osobitný príspevok, social assistance, means tested): See Family Allowances.

Administrative Organization

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

Social Insurance Agency (https://www.socpoist.sk/) administers the program and collects contributions.

Family Allowances

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1945.

Current laws: 2003 (child allowances), implemented in 2004; 2003 (subsistence minimum); 2004 (employment service); 2005 (family and child care); 2009 (parental allowance); 2013 (assistance in material need); and 2013 (birth allowance).

Type of program: Universal and social assistance system.

Coverage

Universal: Residents of Slovakia.

Social assistance: Needy residents of Slovakia.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.

Self-employed person: None.

Employer: None.

Government: The total cost.

Qualifying Conditions

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

Child care allowance (príspevku na starostlivost' o diet'a, universal): Paid for children younger than age 3 (age 6 with chronic health problems) if the parents are working or studying and pay for child care from an accredited caregiver or home worker.

Parental allowance (rodicovský príspevok, universal): Paid for the care of at least one child up to age 3 (age 6 with chronic health problems). The child must not attend a nursery school. A parent must not receive the maternity benefit.

Birth allowance (príspevok pri narodení diet'at'a, universal): Paid for the birth of a child who lives at least 28 days.

Multiple birth allowance (príspevok na viac súcasne narodených detí, universal): Paid to parents on the birth of triplets or more children or the birth of two sets of twins in a two-year period.

Material need allowances (Príspevky k dávke, social assistance, means tested): Paid to needy households with incomes below the monthly subsistence minimum. Must have first claimed all social insurance and social assistance benefits to which they are eligible. Must be registered with the Office of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family.

The monthly subsistence minimum is €199.48 for the first adult in the household, plus €139.16 for each additional adult and €91.06 for each dependent child.

Basic benefit (Dávka v hmotnej núdzi): A benefit is paid.

Protecting Allowance (Ochranný príspevok): Paid to single persons who are at least four months pregnant and attend monthly preventive check-ups, care for a child younger than age 1, are sick for more than 30 days but less than 12 months, have reached normal retirement age, are disabled (at least a 70% loss in earning capacity), or care for a severely disabled person.

Activation allowance (Aktivacný príspevok): Must earn at least the minimum wage, be registered as a job seeker and enrolled in a back-to-work program, or studying with a child younger than age 3 and receiving a parental allowance.

Housing Benefit (Príspevok na bývanie): Paid to cover the cost of housing.

Allowance for a dependent child (Príspevok na nezaopatrené diet'a)): Paid for a dependent child from age 6 to 16 who is enrolled in compulsory education.

One-off benefit (Jednorazová dávka, social assistance, means tested): Paid to partially cover the extraordinary expenses of the household receiving assistance in material need.

Special allowance (Osobitný príspevok, social assistance, means tested): Paid to unemployed persons with monthly earnings up to two times the legal monthly minimum wage who are starting a new job.

Family Allowance Benefits

Child allowance (universal): €3.68 a month is paid for each eligible child.

Child care allowance (príspevku na starostlivost' o diet'a, universal): Up to €280 a month is paid for each eligible child.

Parental allowance (rodicovský príspevok, universal): €214.70 a month is paid. May be increased for multiple births.

Birth allowance (príspevok pri narodení diet'at'a, universal): A lump sum of €829.86 is paid for each birth for the first, second, and third child; €151.37 for the birth of the fourth child and each additional child. For multiple births of three or more (or two sets of twins in a two-year period), the lump sum is increased by €75.69 for each child.

Multiple birth allowance (príspevok na viac súcasne narodených detí, universal): €110.36 a year is paid.

Material need allowances (Príspevky k dávke, social assistance, means tested)

Basic benefit (Dávka v hmotnej núdzi): The monthly benefit is the difference between the monthly subsistence minimum and the actual monthly family income, up to €61.60 (for a single person), €117.20 (for a single parent with up to four children), €171.20 (for a single parent with five or more children), €107.10 (for a couple), €160.40 (for a couple with up to four children), or €216.10 (for a couple with five or more children).

The benefit is reduced by €61.60 for each adult not in a gainful activity for at least 32 hours a month or not willing to accept offers of suitable work for 32 hours a month.

Protecting Allowance (Ochranný príspevok): Up to €63.07 a month is paid for an eligible person who has reached the normal retirement age, is disabled, or is caring for a person with a severe disability; up to €34.69 a month for an eligible sick person; up to €13.50 a month for an eligible pregnant woman and a single parent.

Activation allowance (Aktivacný príspevok): Up to €63.07 a month is paid.

Housing Benefit (Príspevok na bývanie): Up to €55.80 a month is paid for a single person; €89.20 a month for a household with two or more persons.

Allowance for a dependent child (Príspevok na nezaopatrené diet'a): Up to €17.20 a month is paid for each eligible child.

One-off benefit (Jednorazová dávka, social assistance, means tested): A lump sum of up to three times the monthly subsistence minimum is paid.

The monthly subsistence minimum is €199.48 for the first adult in the household, plus €139.16 for each additional adult and €91.06 for each dependent child.

Special allowance (Osobitný príspevok, social assistance, means tested): Up to €126.14 a month is paid for up to six months; €63.07 a month for up to an additional six months.

Administrative Organization

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

Central Office of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family (https://www.upsvar.sk/) administers the programs.