Lawmakers approved an increase in emergency immediate assistance and other social benefits

New Social Benefit Amounts: What Changes Did Lawmakers Approve?

The proposal called for increases in certain benefits as well as changes to the subsistence level, which affects eligibility for certain benefits. Among the main changes approved were:

• Higher emergency disaster assistance: The one-time benefit for victims of natural disasters (such as floods or fires) will increase starting in October from the current maximum of 72,900 CZK to 82,500 CZK. At the same time, the annual limit on this emergency assistance per household will rise from 194,400 CZK to 220,000 CZK.
• Increase in Allowances for Relative Foster Parents: Foster parents caring for relatives’ children will receive at least an additional 1,000 Kč per month. For grandparents caring for a grandchild, this represents an increase of approximately 1,150 CZK, and for other relatives, about 1,480 CZK per month. In the case of caring for a child with a severe disability, the allowance will increase by approximately 3,520 CZK per month.
• Increase in the subsistence minimum starting in October 2025: The subsistence minimum for a single person will rise from 4,860 CZK to 5,500 CZK. For the first adult in the household, it will rise to 5,000 CZK (from the current 4,470 CZK), and for each additional adult, it will decrease to 3,750 CZK (from 4,040 CZK). This increase in the subsistence minimum will expand the group of families that will now be eligible for child allowances or birth grants, as the income threshold for receiving these benefits remains a multiple of the subsistence minimum (e.g., 3.4 times for child allowances). As a result, families with slightly higher incomes than previously allowed will also be eligible for these benefits.
• Higher Non-Attachable Minimum for Debtors: In connection with the increase in the subsistence minimum, the non-attachable amount in debt enforcement proceedings will also rise. As a result, starting in October, individual debtors should retain approximately 640 CZK more of their income than before. This is because the non-seizable amount is calculated as the sum of an individual’s subsistence minimum and standard housing costs (plus an additional amount for dependents).

The amendment also includes other changes—for example, extending the period for which the state pays substitute child support from 4 to 6 years, and introducing new benefits for student parents and financially disadvantaged college students (the so-called “childcare allowance” and a study allowance) starting in 2026. The main goal of the entire reform is to simplify and clarify the state social support system by merging several benefits into one, while strengthening targeted assistance for those in need.