Care Allowance: Who Is Eligible, How Do You Apply, and How Much Is It?

Quick Overview

• A person over one year of age is eligible if, due to a long-term health condition, they require assistance from another person to manage their basic daily needs.
• The application is filed with the Labor Office in the applicant’s place of permanent residence.
• Four levels of dependency are assessed, ranging from mild to complete.
• In 2026,the amount of the care allowance for adults ranges from 1,300 CZK to 27,000 CZK per month,depending on the level of dependency.
• Submission of the application is typically followed by a social investigation and an assessment of the applicant’s health condition.

Are you unsure whether you are eligible for the care allowance, or do you disagree with the assigned level of dependency? Describe your situation to us, and our attorneys will advise you on how to proceed.

The care allowance is a social benefit provided to individuals who are long-term dependent on the assistance of others. This support is used to ensure the necessary care, whether provided by family members, professional social care assistants, or residential social services. Examples include the care allowance for seniors and the care allowance for children.

Who is eligible for the care allowance?

The care allowance is a social benefit under the Social Services Act intended for people who, due to a long-term adverse health condition, cannot manage their basic daily needs without the help of another person. Eligibility is not limited to seniors or people with disabilities—a child over one year of age or any other person who meets the legal requirements may also receive the allowance.

Most often, seniors receive the allowance, but it can also be granted to children (over one year of age) or anyone else. The key point is that the allowance is provided directly to the person who needs assistance. That person can then use it, for example, to pay for care provided by a family member, a social care assistant, a registered social service provider, or a hospice . Even hospitalization does not in itself preclude eligibility for the allowance . In practice, relatives or other close associates often help those in need with the application process.

The care allowance for seniors does not have special rules based solely on the applicant’s age. As with other adults, the decisive factor is the extent to which a senior, due to a long-term adverse health condition, is unable to manage basic daily living needs and requires assistance from another person.

This benefit is not classified as a sickness insurance benefit. Assistance in the form of long-term nursing care benefits is also available under the sickness benefits program. In this case, however, it is indeed a benefit provided directly to caregivers, and it is subject to different eligibility requirements.

How is the amount of the care allowance determined?

The amount of the care allowance depends on the assessed person’s level of dependency, which is determined based on their ability to perform daily activities (known as “assessed activities”).

The law specifies certain areas of daily living needs and activities that are examined during the assessment. These include:

• mobility,
• orientation,
• communication,
• eating,
• dressing and putting on shoes,
• personal hygiene,
• toilet training,
• health care,
• personal activities
• and household care (which, however, is not assessed for persons under 18 years of age).

There are four levels of dependency:

• mild dependency
• moderate dependency
• severe dependency
• total dependency

Each level of dependency corresponds to a specific monthly amount set by law. The amount of the care allowance for an elderly person or a child also varies.

The individual levels of a person’s dependence on care from others are characterized by an inability to manage a certain number of these needs. The number of unmet needs can be thought of as points that determine the level of dependence.

How is the level of dependency assessed for the care allowance?

The assessment of the level of dependency for the care allowance is based on how many basic daily needs a person is unable to manage due to their health condition.

For adults, this means:

• 3–4 unmet needs: Level I,
• 5–6 needs: Level II,
• 7–8 needs: Level III,
• 9–10 needs: Level IV.

For children under 18, the thresholds are different, and household care is not taken into account for them.

How do I apply for a care allowance?

• Fill out the application for a care allowance.
• Attach the required “Notification of Care Provider.”
• Submit the application to the appropriate Labor Office branch based on your permanent residence, or electronically.
• The Labor Office will then conduct a social assessment.
• The documentation will be forwarded to the Institute for the Assessment of Health Status (IPZS), which will assess the degree of dependency.
• Based on the assessment, the Labor Office will issue a decision granting or denying the allowance.

The allowance is applied for at the relevant Labor Office using a form. During the assessment, a social investigation is conducted in which a social worker determines which activities the person is unable to perform. This information is supplemented by a medical assessment and other supporting documents. Caring for a child requires a different approach than caring for a senior, which is reflected in both the assessment and the amount of the allowance. For children, for example, household care tasks are not assessed.

What should you prepare for the social investigation?

During the social assessment, the diagnosis alone is not the deciding factor. The social worker primarily determines how the applicant actually manages daily life. Before the visit, therefore, think about specific situations in which you need help—such as with dressing, personal hygiene, eating, mobility, taking medication, or orientation. Do not downplay your difficulties simply because you have become accustomed to relying on others for help.

From experience: A common problem is that during the social assessment, the applicant or their family describes medical diagnoses but explains less specifically what the person is actually unable to do because of their condition. Yet it is precisely the impact of the medical condition on the ability to manage basic daily needs that is decisive for assessing the degree of dependency.

Amount of the Care Allowance by Level in 2026

The final amount of the care allowance for a family member depends both onthe level of dependencyand onthe ageof the person receiving care. The individual categories and their amounts are set directly by law, and it is up tothe relevantLabor Office to evaluate the condition of the person being assessed and assign them to one of the categories. As mentioned above, we distinguish betweenfour levels of dependency: mild (Level I), moderate (Level II), severe (Level III), and total (Level IV).

These amounts are effective as of January 1, 2026. For Level IV dependency, the amount varies depending on whether the assistance is provided by a residential social service as defined by law or in other cases.

Under certain conditions, the allowance may be increased, for example, if the household income does not exceed twice the subsistence minimum. A higher allowance is also available to parents caring for a dependent child.

The Process for Obtaining the Benefit

A person eligible for this benefit can download the care allowance application form from the website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Depending on their place of residence, they simply need to locate the appropriate Labor Office and submit the completed application there electronically with an electronic signature, via a data box, or in person. A “Notice of Care Provider” must be attached to the application.

What documents are required to apply for the care allowance?

• the applicant’sidentification card
• Birth certificate for a child under 15 years of age
• Completed “Notification of Care Provider” form
• Other documents as needed depending on the specific situation, such as a confirmation of long-term hospitalization

If assistance is provided by a social care assistant or another person who is not related to the recipient, a written contract for the provision of assistance must also be submitted.

A social worker verifies the declared circumstances. In doing so, the social worker assesses the extent to which the person under review is capable of independent living. After conducting the social assessment, the Employment Office forwards the documentation to the Institute for Health Assessment (IPZS), which prepares an assessment of the degree of dependency. This assessment is based primarily on the health status documented by medical records and the results of the social assessment.

Granting the Benefit

The benefit is granted by a decision of the relevant Labor Office. If the recipient agrees with the decision, the benefit will be paid monthly to their bank account or via postal money order.

If the recipient disagrees with the Labor Office’sfinal decision —for example, because they dispute the degree of dependency determined by the office— they may appeal the decision. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs will then review the entire case.

In practice, it makes sense to first identify the basic daily living needs where the assessment differs from the applicant’s actual functioning. An appeal based solely on the assertion that the medical condition is “serious” may not capture what is decisive for determining the degree of dependency.

Do you believe that the Labor Office incorrectly determined the degree of dependency or denied the benefit altogether? Contact our attorneys. We will review the decision and its supporting documentation and advise you on how to proceed.

Change in the Allowance Amount

During the period of eligibility for the care allowance, the eligible person may request a change in the amount of the allowance at any time. To do so, simply fill out the application for a change in the amount of the allowance on the prescribed form and send it to the Labor Office. The recipient is also required to notify the Employment Office in writing within 8 days of any changes that may affect eligibility, the amount, or the payment of the allowance, such as a change in the care provider. For individuals receiving an increased benefit due to low income, changes in their income situation may also be a determining factor.

When is an increase in the care allowance possible?

If the incomeof the eligible person and those assessed jointly with themisless than twice the subsistence minimum, the care allowance may be increased by 2,000 CZK. Provided certain conditions are met, the increased care allowance is available to a dependent child under 18 years of age who receives a care allowance and to a parent who is entitled to a care allowance and who also cares for a dependent child under 18 years of age. The application form for the care allowance increaseis available for download on the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs website.

Can the allowance be combined with other benefits?

The care allowance can be combined with other social benefits, provided the legal conditions are met. For example, it is common to simultaneously receive a mobility allowance (for people with limited mobility) or a housing allowance. If a person with a disability is a student, they may also be eligible for a scholarship for disadvantaged students. However, the eligibility criteria for each additional benefit must be assessed separately—some depend on household income, while others depend on health status or other circumstances. When submitting an application to the Employment Office, we recommend discussing the possibility of combining this benefit with other benefits right away.

Summary

The care allowance is a benefit intended for people over one year of age who, due to a long-term adverse health condition, need assistance from another person to manage their basic daily needs. The allowance is applied for at the Labor Office, and a “Notification of Care Provider” must be submitted along with the application. This is followed by a social assessment and an evaluation of the degree of dependency. In 2026, the allowance for adults ranges from 1,300 CZK, 5,400 CZK, 14,800 CZK, or 23,000 to 27,000 CZK per month, depending on the degree of dependency; for individuals under 18 years of age, the amounts are 4,900 CZK, CZK 8,200, CZK 16,100, and CZK 23,000 to 27,000. If a person’s health condition changes, they may request an adjustment to the benefit amount. An appeal may be filed against a decision by the Labor Office, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs will rule on the appeal.