This chapter describes the benefits to which parents of children and other individuals are entitled on a one-off basis in extraordinary cases. Such situations include the birth of a child in a low-income family, and the death of a child or a parent.

The benefits explained are the following:

• birth grant (porodné);
• funeral grant (pohřebné).

In what situation can I claim?

The birth grant (porodné) is a one-off parental benefit for low-income families. It is used to improve the family's economic situation when a child is born.

This grant is paid to mothers who have given birth to their first and second live-born children. In special cases it is also provided to others caring for a new born child or children.

The funeral grant (pohřebné) is a one-off benefit intended to relieve families of the financial burden associated with the death of a child or parent. The person who arranged the funeral for a child or their parents is the beneficiary.

All families in this situation are eligible regardless of income.

What conditions do I need to meet?

The birth grant is provided to mothers who:

• have given birth to their first two live children;
• have permanent residence in the Czech Republic;
• family income does not exceed 2.7 times the living minimum (see Jargon busters) in the previous calendar quarter.

The family's decisive income (see Jargon busters) is examined when applying for this benefit. The living minimum is calculated using requisite tables from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Ministerstvo práce a sociálních věcí).

For a couple expecting their first child:

For a single mother expecting her first child:

The child's father can apply if the new born child's mother dies and she was eligible for the birth grant. Likewise another person who assumes care for a child can also apply as long as this person meets the eligibility criteria for threshold income and residence in the Czech Republic.

The funeral grant is provided to the person who:

• arranged the funeral for a child who was dependent at the date of death, or for a foetus after spontaneous abortion or termination of pregnancy for medical reasons,
• arranged the funeral for a person who was the parent of a dependent child at the date of death.

The death of a child or parent is treated equally in such case.

The only condition is that the person who died must have had residence in the Czech Republic. This condition does not apply if a new born child for whom no residence could have been declared has died.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

Birth grant

The following fixed amounts are paid to every eligible family:

• CZK 13,000 to women who have given birth to their first live-born child;
• CZK 10,000 to women who have given birth to their second live-born child.

Funeral grant

Eligible applicants receive a one-off amount of CZK 5,000.

The benefit is fixed and does not consider the family's income or social situation.

Where and how to apply

A birth grant or funeral grant application can be submitted at any point within one year from the date of birth or funeral respectively. Eligibility lapses thereafter.

Applications are handled by  the Labour Office's regional offices or contact points at the place of residence.

Jargon busters

• Decisive income (rozhodný příjem) is the sum of the income of all persons with permanent residence in a common household including some social benefits.
• The living minimum (životní minimum) is the minimum socially recognised income threshold needed for subsistence and ensuring basic living needs. This amount is calculated for a household based on the number of members and their ages.
• A dependent child (nezaopatřené dítě) is a child up to the age of compulsory school attendance or up to the age of 26 if they study or are unable to study due to health issues.

Forms you may need

• Application for birth grant (Žádost o porodné – Czech only)
• Income statement (Doklad o výši čtvrtletního příjmu – Czech only)
• Application for funeral grant (Žádost o pohřebné – Czech only)

All forms to be found under: Other required forms - in Czech

Know your rights

These links do not lead to European Commission websites and do not represent the views of the European Commission:

• Act on State Social Support (Zákon o státní sociální podpoře) (in Czech).
• State social support (mpsv.cz), website of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic in English. Please make use of EU assistance services if you experience any problems in applying your rights: Family benefits: your rights in the EU 

Useful contacts

Labour Office of the Czech Republic (Úřad práce České republiky)
Contact counselling centre:
Tel. +420 844844803
kontaktni.centrum@mpsv.cz, callcentrum@mpsv.cz

List of the Labour Office's regional offices and contact points (in Czech): https://www.uradprace.cz/web/cz/kontakty-2

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic (Ministerstvo práce a sociálních věcí ČR)
Na Poříčním právu 1/376
128 01 Prague 2
CZECH REPUBLIC
Tel. +420 221921111
Data box: sc9aavg

Website of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic in English https://www.mpsv.cz/web/en