Background information

The consequences of the war in Ukraine, the rise in energy prices and inflation also have an impact on surrogate families. In May 2022, in the form of Inflation Aid, the government paid out special benefits for several groups of residents, which included also Substitute Child Care providers. The measure was based on Government Regulation (dated 11 May 2022) No. 159/2022 Coll., which amended Government Regulation 102/2020 Coll. on some measures in the field of social affairs, family and employment services during an extraordinary situation, a state of emergency declared in connection with the disease COVID-19. In addition, benefits for persons providing Substitute Child Care have increased 1 July 2022. Act 107/2022 Coll. amended the Act 627/2005 Coll. on contributions to support a surrogate family; the state will support surrogate families who, despite demanding care, decide to take care of larger sibling groups or children with disabilities.

Content of measure

A special allowance of €100 was paid to each substitute parent in June 2022. As of 1 July 2022 the benefits for substitute child care providers have increased. The following benefits were increased in particular:

• Repetitive Allowance for Substitute Parents (monthly from €194.20 to €208.80), while the allowances to this benefit in the case of siblings increased in particular (e.g. from €138.40 to €208.80 if the substitute parent is caring for three children who are siblings).
• The monthly Repetitive Special Allowance to Substitute Parent for substitute parent if the child is disabled has also increased - from €79.70 to €256.90.
• New contributions were introduced: Child allowance to cover increased expenses up to a maximum of €500 per calendar year and Education allowance to substitute parent up to a maximum of €100 per calendar year.

Use of measure

An ad-hoc benefit of €100 was paid to 7,300 surrogate parents. The total amount of this support was €730,000. For the year 2022, the increase in substitute child care support compared to the current state is €1.134 million, in 2023 it will be an increase of €1.799 million and in 2024 the increase will be of €1.858 million.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Children (minors) Other groups of citizens People on social benefits

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The social partners were not involved in the designing and implementation of the measure to provide an ad-hoc benefit of €100 for surrogate parents. But it was discussed in the media in general about the need for help for various groups of the population due to the inflation. The social partners were involved in the preparation of the increase of the Substitute child care allowance - in the form of participation in the interdepartmental comment procedure in November 2021.

Views and reactions

The social partners did not have critical reservations about the proposal to increase the regular monthly assistance for the substitute care system, they supported the government's proposal. They did not apply any comments.

Sources

• 11 May 2022: Nariadenie vlády 159/2022 Z.z., ktorým sa novelizuje nariadenie vlády Slovenskej republiky č. 102/2020 Z. z (www.slov-lex.sk)
• 01 July 2022: Zákon 107/2022 Z.z., ktorým sa novelizuje zákon 627/2005 Z.z. o príspevkoch na podporu náhradnej rodiny (www.slov-lex.sk)