Factsheet for measure
HR-2022-15/2199
–
Updated
– measures in Croatia
Social rights and assistance for refugees from Ukraine
Socijalna prava i pomoć za izbjeglice iz Ukrajine
Background information
There are more than 10,000 Ukrainian refugees in Croatia who have fled the Russian aggression and Croatia has shown solidarity in various ways. Persons seeking temporary protection in Croatia are granted social welfare benefits and services, and this also applies to refugees arriving from Ukraine. Currently, the Act on International and Temporary Protection grants persons under temporary protection the rights to basic amenities and to adequate accommodation (provided that they do not have any financial assets of their own). The response to the current situation is based on solidarity and support and cooperation, not only between the public administration bodies, but also with the independent institutions such as the Ombudswoman and the special ombudspersons, as well as with the regional and local self-government units, the business sector and the civil society, is the key of good preparation and implementation for it.
Content of measure
A person should prove his or her status of a person under temporary protection with the Identity Card of a foreigner under temporary protection. An expert from the social welfare centre will talk to such person to determine how he or she can be best helped. Such persons have the right to:
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the first social service, consultation, psychosocial counselling,
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accommodation (if he or she meets the requirements in accordance with the Social Welfare Act: unaccompanied children, children with disabilities, the elderly, people with disabilities)
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and a one-time allowance for a single person up to HRK 2,500.00 (€332) and for a family up to HRK 3,500.00 (€465).
Such person can submit a request for a one-time fee to the on-duty social worker in the Reception and Collective Accommodation visited by Mobile Teams. If the refugee is in private individual accommodation, he or she can apply at the Centres for Social Welfare and their branches in Croatia.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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26 November 2024
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The Government of the Republic of Croatia on 23 March 2022, issued the Decision on financing the costs of housing for persons from Ukraine in individual accommodation. Based on this Decision, the Ministry of the Interior, Civil Protection Directorate, concludes a lease agreement with the owners who have ceded their real estate for the accommodation of displaced persons for a housing unit for the housing of displaced persons from Ukraine. The agreement was valid for a period of six months with the possibility of an extension of up to one year. On 22 March 2023, the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted a Decision amending the previous Decision, extending the financing until 4 March 2024. On 6 March 2024, based on the lease agreement for a housing unit to provide housing care for displaced persons from Ukraine, 2,934 displaced persons were accommodated, while 1,592 displaced persons from Ukraine were accommodated in collective accommodation. The cost of housing care for one displaced person from Ukraine in individual accommodation, based on a contract for renting a housing unit, is many times lower than the cost of care in collective accommodation. Due to the current situation resulting from the aggression against Ukraine, the Republic of Croatia continues to assist displaced Ukrainian citizens in housing care upon arrival in its territory. On 29 February 2024, the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted a Decision on the extension of financing the costs of housing for displaced persons from Ukraine until 4 March 2025.
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26 November 2024
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One of the important preconditions for improving the position and integration of displaced persons and refugees is adequate information on their position. In Croatia, such information is quite rare and often inaccurately reported. The UN Refugee Agency, in cooperation with its partner the Festival of Tolerance, organized on 21 March 2024 a workshop to empower journalists to report on displaced persons and refugee integration. The workshop was attended by representatives of digital, print, television, and radio media outlets, as well as other media professionals who wanted to improve their skills in reporting on this important social issue. The workshop aimed to provide participants with insight into key aspects of refugee integration and to empower them to report on this important social issue in a high-quality and responsible manner. It was explained that displaced persons and refugees bring unique stories of resilience, hope, and survival. Behind the statistics and political discussions are individuals and families who have endured unimaginable hardships, forced to leave their homes due to war, conflict, or persecution. Displaced persons and refugee integration are an important social process that requires media attention to ensure that the public is properly informed and understands the challenges and realities they face.
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30 March 2023
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On the basis of the Decision by the Ministry of the Interior, Directorate of Civil Protection, as a lessee, with the owners who have ceded their real estate for the accommodation of displaced persons, enters into a contract for the lease of a residential unit for the housing care of displaced persons from of Ukraine for a period of six months with the possibility of extension for a maximum of one year. The first lease agreement for the purpose of providing housing for displaced persons from Ukraine was signed on 13 April 2022 and extended for the next six months, i.e. until 11 April 2023, without the possibility of further extension. On 13 March 2023, 2972 displaced persons were accommodated on the basis of the lease agreement for housing units for the housing of displaced persons from Ukraine. On the same day, 1658 displaced persons from Ukraine were accommodated in collective accommodation. Given that the current state of war, which has affected the civilian clergy of Ukraine, is still ongoing, Croatia continues to aid displaced persons from Ukraine in providing housing upon arrival in the territory of the Republic of Croatia. Pursuant to the Implementation Decision of the Council of 4 March 2022, the Directive on temporary protection 2001/55/EC and the Act on international and temporary protection, temporary protection is granted for a period of one year and can be automatically extended for another period from twice for six months, and up to a year at the longest. In this sense, the status of temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine is extended until 4 March 2024. To extend the status of temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine after 4 March 2024, it is necessary to adopt a new Implementation Decision of the Council. Accordingly, the Government of Croatia proposes to amend the Decision on the financing of housing costs taking care of displaced persons from Ukraine in individual accommodation. The paragraph 2 of the aforementioned Decisions allows for the extension of the rental agreement until 4 March 2024 at the latest.
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Use of measure
All refugees from Ukraine (10,000 until now) are eligible for such form of social rights and assistance, They can submit a request for a one-time fee to the on-duty social worker in the Reception and Collective Accommodation visited by Mobile Teams. If such person is in private individual accommodation, he or she can apply at the Centres for Social Welfare and their branches in Croatia. This assistance is paid once in cash and it is used to cover extraordinary expenses incurred due to current life circumstances. There is also a telephone and e-mail where additional information can be obtained. For such persons on the appropriate web-page, there is also a section with Q&A, like: Am I an elderly person, a person with a disability or do I have a large family, and I am housed in collective accommodation? What are benefits for people with disabilities? What is the procedure and conditions for obtaining aids for people with disabilities? Do I need free legal aid? Do I need hygiene items, clothes and shoes?
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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No involvement as case not in social partner domain
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No involvement as case not in social partner domain
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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No involvement
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Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
Due to the nature of the measure, social partners were not included.
Views and reactions
Social partners in Croatia fully support all forms of aid to refugees from Ukraine. For, example, the Economic and Social Council (ESC) which consists of representatives from the government, employers and trade unions, fully supports government efforts concerning the reception, accommodation and inclusion of Ukrainian refugees in the Croatian society
Sources
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22 March 2021: A workshop for journalists on displaced persons and refugee integration (Radionica za novinare o integraciji izbjeglica i prognanika)
(www.unhcr.org)
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07 April 2022: Socijalna prava i pomoć (Social rights and assistance for refugees from Ukraine
(hrvatskazaukrajinu.gov.hr)
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22 March 2023: The amended Decision on financing costs for housing care for displaced persons from Ukraine in individual accommodation (Izmijenjena Odluka o financiranju troškova za stambeno zbrinjavanje raseljenih osoba iz Ukrajine u pojedinačnom smještaju)
(hrvatskazaukrajinu.gov.hr)
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04 April 2024: The extension of financing the costs of housing for displaced persons from Ukraine (Produljenje financiranja troškova za stambeno zbrinjavanje raseljenih osoba iz Ukrajine)
(vlada.gov.hr)
