Croatia - Long-term care benefits
This chapter will explain your entitlements in Croatia if you are unable to meet your personal needs and require help from another person.
This chapter covers the following entitlements:
- assistance and care allowance (doplatak za pomoć i njegu);
- personal disability allowance (osobna invalidnina).
In what situation can I claim?
You may be entitled to assistance and care allowance and personal disability allowance if you are a Croatian national with a permanent residence in Croatia, or a foreign national or stateless person with a permanent residence permit in Croatia.
These entitlements can also be claimed by a foreigner under subsidiary protection, an asylum seeker and a foreigner under temporary protection and their family members who legally reside in the Republic of Croatia, as well as a foreigner with the established status of a victim of human trafficking, can receive benefits and services in the social welfare system.
What conditions do I need to meet?
If you cannot satisfy your basic living needs yourself and require the assistance and care of another person, you may be entitled to assistance and care allowance. In other words, if you need help in organising your meals, preparing and eating meals, buying groceries, cleaning and housework, dressing and undressing, taking care of personal hygiene and carrying out other basic living needs.
If you have third level of disability (moderate disability) are entitled to a full assistance and care allowance to satisfy your living needs and ensure your participation in everyday social life.
If you have second level of disability you are entitled to a reduced assistance and care allowance if your monthly income does not exceed EUR 165.90 and if the average monthly income of the members of your household does not exceed EUR 132.72 in the 3 months prior to submittingthe claim.
What am I entitled to and how can I claim?
Assistance and care allowance
The right to full or reduced assistance and care allowance can be recognised depending on whether there is an urgent full or partial need for the help and care of another person:
- full allowance: EUR 79,63
- reduced allowance: EUR 55,74
Personal disability allowance (PDA)
The right to personal disability allowance is recognised for a child or a person who has been diagnosed with the fourth degree of severity of disability (i.e.impairment of functional abilities).
The right to personal disability allowance cannot be acquired for a person who is using accomodation service or supported housing service, who acquired PDA by other regulations or who receives Assisstance and Care Allowance.
The amount of PDA is EUR 232.26.
Entitlement to assistance and care allowance and personal disability allowance is received through the Social Institute for Social Work according to your place of residence.
Jargon busters
- Permanent residence is the place and address in Croatia at which a person has permanently settled for the purpose of exercising their rights and obligations associated with their life interests, such as family, professional, economic, social, cultural and other interests.
- Temporary residence is the place and address in Croatia where a person is temporarily residing, but has not permanently settled at that address. Temporary residence is registered if it will last longer than 3 months.
Know your rights
You can find out about your legal rights at the links below. They are not European Commission websites and do not represent the views of the Commission:
- Social Welfare Act;
- Frequently asked questions about social welfare;
- https://migracije.hr/social-welfare/?lang=en.
Commission publications and websites:
Who do you need to contact?
Croatian Institute for Social Work
The list of regional offices is not yet available Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy
Ulica grada Vukovara 78
HR-10000 Zagreb
Croatia
Tel. +385 15557111
https://mrosp.gov.hr/