Slovakia expands caregiver benefits and introduces mortgage relief

From 1 August 2026 Slovakia’s Social Insurance agency will broaden eligibility for short‑ and long‑term caregiver allowances. The reform adds spouses of parents, step‑parents and adoptive parents caring for a sick relative, allowing thousands of families to receive up to 55 % of a daily earnings base for up to 14 days (short‑term) or 90 days (long‑term). The new rules also simplify the swapping of caregivers by using an electronic form, removing the need for a doctor's confirmation.

Effective 1 May 2026 a separate amendment will enable banks to automatically provide housing‑loan assistance of up to €150 per month to qualifying borrowers. The aid covers those whose mortgage payments rose due to interest‑rate adjustments, provided the loan started before 1 January 2024, the borrower resides in Slovakia and income does not exceed 1.6 times the average national wage. The support is paid directly by the bank without a separate application, and retroactive payments may be claimed from 1 December 2025.