What is one-time assistance and who is eligible?
One-time assistance is a form of support within the social welfare system that can be granted to an individual – an asylee, a person under subsidiary protection, or a person under temporary protection – or to a household that, due to covering extraordinary expenses arising from current life circumstances (e.g. birth or education of a child, illness or death of a family member, natural disasters, etc.), is unable to meet basic living needs. It may also be granted for the purchase of essential household items or necessary clothing and footwear, if such needs cannot be met in cooperation with humanitarian organizations (e.g. the Croatian Red Cross).
This right is also available to adoptive parents, after the adoption has been finalized, to cover the needs of the adopted child. The application must be submitted within six months from the date the adoption is finalized.
How can one-time assistance be obtained?
One-time assistance is generally granted as a cash benefit, and exceptionally as an in-kind benefit.
It is granted as an in-kind benefit if the regional office of the Croatian Institute for Social Work determines that there is a justified assumption that the recipient will not use the cash benefit for its intended purpose. For example, if you are requesting assistance to purchase a specific item, you may not receive cash but rather the item itself.
How much is the one-time assistance?
The total amount of granted one-time assistance within a calendar year cannot exceed €375 for a single person (500% of the base), or €525 for a household (700% of the base).
The base amount is determined annually by the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
The base amount for each year is determined by a decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, and for the year 2025, the base amount is €75 – (https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2024_12_151_2481.html ).
In particularly justified cases, when life circumstances so require, the Institute may grant one-time assistance of up to €1,327.23 once per year.
Once the adoption is finalized, the adoptive parent becomes eligible for one-time assistance in the amount of €1,327.23 for the needs of the adopted child.
Where should the request be submitted?
The request for recognition of the right to assistance is submitted to the regional office of the Croatian Institute for Social Work according to the applicant’s place of residence.
How long does it take to receive a decision?
A decision on the recognition of the right to one-time assistance is issued within eight days from the date of submission of a complete application.
What if my application is rejected?
If you are not satisfied with the decision, you have the right to file an appeal. The appeal should be submitted to the regional office that issued the decision within 15 days of receiving the decision.
The appeal can be submitted in writing in person at the office, by mail, electronically, or stated orally on the record at the regional office.
For more information on other benefits within the social welfare system, click here.
Sources:
Zakon o socijalnoj skrbi NN 18/22, 46/22, 119/22, 71/23, 156/23, 61/25: https://www.zakon.hr/z/222/zakon-o-socijalnoj-skrbi
Odluka o osnovici za izračun iznosa drugih naknada u sustavu socijalne skrbi, NN 151/2024: https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2024_12_151_2481.html
https://socskrb.hr/djelatnosti/naknade-u-sustavu-socijalne-skrbi/
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