Significant changes are being prepared in Slovakia in the system of child benefit payments and guardianship rules, which will come into effect on January 1, 2027. Previously, parents could count on payments without strict control over school attendance, but now for truancy and failure to fulfill educational duties, these funds can be temporarily lost.
The Government of Slovakia on August 26, 2026 approved a bill aimed at strengthening the responsibility of parents and legal representatives for proper fulfillment of parental duties, as well as ensuring targeted use of social benefits.
What will change for parents and children
Payments up to 26 years and conditions for foreigners
According to the new bill, child benefit (prídavok na dieťa) will be paid up to 26 years old. However, for children of workers from third countries (i.e., non-EU), its provision will be possible only if they have trvalý pobyt (permanent residence) or prechodný pobyt (temporary residence) in Slovakia. This will allow the state to better verify whether the conditions for receiving payments are truly met and increase the efficiency of the relevant authorities.
Strengthening control over school attendance
One of the key changes is the strengthening of penalties for neglecting compulsory school education. If a child systematically misses classes and the family repeatedly violates the rules even three months after appointing a special recipient of the benefit, the state will be able to temporarily suspend the payment of the benefit.
The Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Family (MPSVR) of the Slovak Republic emphasizes that the bill does not cancel the right to the benefit itself but only suspends its payment during the period of circumstances established by law. After the reasons for suspension are eliminated, the payment will be restored without re-evaluation of the right, provided no other important circumstances have changed.
Changes in the system of substitute care
The innovations also concern the conditions of substitute care. The Ministry proposes mandatory checks of children in substitute families at least once every six months. In cases of new substitute care or if the child lives in the same household with the biological father, the frequency of visits should be at least once every three months.
The conditions for receiving a one-time benefit upon transferring a child to substitute care are also clarified. The right to this benefit arises for the same child only once to prevent repeated payments upon repeated transfer to care. Exceptions are cases when a child after a previous form of substitute care was transferred to patronage care — then repeated receipt of the one-time benefit is possible.
These changes aim to strengthen the protection of the child's right to education and increase parental responsibility.
