Slovakia to expand caregiver benefits and raise assistance rates from July 2026

From 1 July 2026 Slovakia will introduce new rules for the caregiver allowance (OČR). The reform widens eligibility to include sick spouses, adoptive parents, step‑parents and other close relatives, and it digitises the process so that caregivers can transfer care electronically without a doctor’s paper confirmation.

The monthly cash benefit will rise to €729 for single care‑givers, with an additional €200 supplement for those caring for children with severe disabilities, totalling €929. For two dependents the allowance will be €969. The hourly rate for personal assistance will increase to €6.81. From January 2027, residential social‑service facilities will receive an extra €312 million in state funding. A separate change, effective 1 December 2024, ends the practice of reducing caregiver payments based on the income of the cared‑for person.

These measures aim to simplify administration, raise financial support for families, and improve the overall provision of social‑care services in Slovakia.