Can the state stop paying child benefits if the child does not attend school? Or if you work in Slovakia but your child lives in Ukraine? Soon, the answer to both questions might be "yes." The Slovak government is considering stricter rules for social benefit payments, which could directly affect two groups: parents whose children systematically skip school, and foreigners whose children do not have a residence permit in the country.
What has changed in the rules?
The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family has initiated legislative changes aimed at making social support more targeted. According to the Minister of Labour, Erik Tomáš, the goal is to ensure that children attend educational institutions and that financial aid goes to families who actually live in Slovakia.
The main changes concern two key payments:
Child benefit (prídavok na dieťa) — a monthly payment of 60 euros for each dependent child until they reach the age of 25.
Parental benefit (rodičovský príspevok) — a payment for one parent caring for a child up to three years old (or six if the child has health problems).
The changes will affect both Slovak citizens and foreigners, but there are specific details for each group.
Skipping School: How the Penalty Mechanism Works
One of the main innovations could be linking social benefits to school attendance. If a student misses a significant number of classes without a valid reason, their parents may temporarily lose part of the state support.
How it works:
Recording absences. The school principal will be required to inform the municipality (obec) if a student has more than 15 hours of unexcused absences in a month.
Suspending payments. The municipality will forward this information to the Labour, Social Affairs and Family Office (Úrad práce, sociálnych vecí a rodiny). Based on this, the office can suspend the child benefit (prídavok na dieťa) payment for three months.
Reducing parental benefit. If a family receives parental benefit (rodičovský príspevok), its amount may be reduced by 50%.
To restore full payments, the child must attend school regularly for three months. This measure aims to motivate parents to better monitor their children's education.
Foreigners and Benefits: Why a Child's Residence Permit is Key
The most significant changes concern workers from non-EU countries, especially Ukrainians. Previously, it was enough for one parent to work legally and pay social contributions in Slovakia to receive child benefits. Now, this is not enough.
According to the new rules, to receive child benefits and parental benefits, not only the parent but also the child must have a temporary or permanent residence permit (prechodný alebo trvalý pobyt) in Slovakia.
This means that families where one parent works in Slovakia and the child stays in Ukraine with the other parent will lose their right to these benefits. According to the Ministry of Labour, about 24 million euros were spent annually from the budget on benefits for children of third-country workers who did not live in Slovakia. The new law aims to stop this practice.
It is important to note that these changes do not apply to EU citizens and cases covered by international agreements. For Ukrainians in Slovakia under temporary protection (dočasné útočisko), this status for the child is a basis for receiving benefits, as it confirms their legal stay in the country. Also, according to the Ministry of Education, school attendance is mandatory for children from Ukraine with temporary protection status.
What should parents do?
Monitor attendance. Regularly check the school diary and communicate with the class teacher to avoid accumulating unexcused absences.
Check your child's documents. If you work in Slovakia and your child lives with you, make sure they have the appropriate residence permit (temporary protection, prechodný pobyt). Without it, you will not be eligible for social benefits.
