Child allowance

Child allowance is a repeated state social benefit, the purpose of which is to contribute to the education and nutrition of a dependent child. 

A dependent child is defined as a child:

• receiving compulsory education, or
• up to 25 years of age, if enrolled in full-time studies at secondary school or university, or if due to an illness or injury, the child is unable to study or to engage in a profit-making activity,
• if he/she is unable to study or perform a gainful activity due to a long-term unfavourable state of health, at the latest until he reaches the age of majority.

A dependent child shall not be considered a child entitled to a disability pension or if the child has completed the 2nd level of higher education (master’s degree).

Conditions for claiming the allowance are:

• care of the entitled person for a dependant child, and
• permanent or temporary residence of the entitled person in the territory of the Slovak Republic.

A person entitled to claim the allowance is:

• a parent of a dependent child,
• a person to whose custody the child was entrusted  on  basis of a final court decision,
• a person to whom the child was entrusted to a substitute parental care on the basis of a final court decision,
• a dependent adult child, if the child has no parents, holds a modified maintenance obligation, is married or divorced, or
• a minor parent, with acknowledged parental authority.

The entitled person loses the entitlement to claim the allowance if:

• a dependent child is provided with care in a social and legal protection facility for children or in a special educational facility,
• a dependent child is held in custody or serving a prison sentence or
• the authorized person and the dependent child reside in a non-EU/EEA member state (including the Swiss Confederation), and if during their residence in such state, the authorized person fails to hold compulsory public health insurance policy in the Slovak Republic.

The allowance amounts to EUR 60 (for 2024). The amount of the allowance is increased by EUR 110 for the calendar month in which the child first enters the 1st year of primary school.

You may claim the allowance at the Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, Department of State Social Benefits, competent according to your permanent or temporary residence in Slovakia, The Office will also disburse the allowance retroactively as of the date of fulfilling the conditions for its allocation, for a maximum retroactive period of six months.

The application for the allowance must be submitted together with the following documents:

• child‘s birth certificate 
• passport of the applicant
• proof of residence (plastic identity card)
• confirmation from  a primary school on compulsory school attendance in the academic year following the academic year, in which the child reaches 16 years of age, for each academic year, until completing the compulsory school attendance and secondary school or university abroad if the child prepares for future profession trough studies
• confirmation from the treating physician about the illness or injury of a child, due to which the child is unable to systematically prepare for the future profession through studies or to engage in a profit-making activity
• confirmation from a health insurance company, confirming that the applicant holds public health insurance policy in the Slovak Republic (only if the applicant and a dependent child reside in a non-EU member state)