Government Approves Law on Allowances for Assistance in Dependency

Bratislava, 28 November (TASR) - At its special session on Friday, the government approved a bill on allowances for assistance in dependency sponsored by the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministry. The bill adjusts the allowance itself, creates a new role of long-term carer, and amends some other laws. At the same time, the government asked Parliament to deal with the law via a short-track legislative procedure. In line with the new law, an allowance for assistance in dependency would be paid directly to the person in need of care. They would be able to decide whether to use it for family care at home provided by relatives or for formal home care services provided by professionals. The amount of the contribution should depend on the degree of dependency. The new role of long-term carer should also be created, with this person able to perform a wider range of tasks related to nursing care. A change should also concern the financing of care homes run by non-public providers, which will be co-financed by local governments. The law would take effect gradually, with the first phase expected to come into force as of 1 January 2026, the next one as of 1 July 2026 and the remainder as of 1 January 2027. The reason given for this is adjustments, with both social care providers and local governments needing time to implement the changes. ko/df