The Czech Republic is changing the rules for the payment of cash assistance to refugees

On February 7, the lower house of the Czech parliament supported in the first reading the draft law “Lex Ukraina” proposed by the government, amending the rules of financial support for Ukrainian refugees living in the country. uamedia.eu writes about it.

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Now the members of the parliamentary committee on social affairs must consider the document in an accelerated mode (within two days) and give their recommendations. Then he will return to the chamber for the second reading.

Help for Ukrainians

Among other things, the bill changes the rules for the payment of humanitarian aid to refugees, writes vinegret.cz. Today, it amounts to 5,000 kroner per month for the first six months, then its size decreases to the subsistence minimum, which is now equal to 4,860 kroner for an adult and up to 3,490 kroner for a dependent under 18 years old.

Only Ukrainians who have not been provided with free accommodation, multiple meals and basic hygiene products are entitled to help. Moreover, only the first payment is automatically made – the rest must be substantiated, that is, the Employment Center must be provided with evidence of a difficult financial situation (absence of work, disability, etc.).

Read: The Czech Republic extended temporary protection for Ukrainians for an hour. The new bill contains the following changes:

• assistance is proposed to be tied to the subsistence minimum from the first payment. That is, instead of 5,000 crowns, a single applicant will be able to receive a maximum of 4,860 crowns;

• for the disabled and pensioners (over 65 years old), the assistance will be higher. Its value will be 1.5 times the subsistence minimum, i.e. 7,290 kroner for an adult and 5,235 kroner for a child. Disability certificates issued by Ukraine will be accepted for registration of increased benefits;

• for children from 6 to 10 years of age, the amount of humanitarian aid will be 1.2 times the subsistence minimum;

• if after 150 days from the moment of obtaining the status of temporary protection, the refugee does not find a job without a good reason (raising a child, retirement age, training, disability, pregnancy, etc.), then the payment amount will be reduced to the so-called existence minimum (existenčné minimum) . Today, the ego size is 3130 kroner for an adult. This point is introduced with the aim of motivating refugees to look for work and actively integrate into Czech society;

• the first payment will cease to be automatic. The right to receive assistance and its amount will be determined individually and will depend on the size of the applicant’s income, received both in the Czech Republic and from abroad (mainly from Ukraine). Funds in the bank accounts of the applicant and his property are also taken into account (on the basis of the honest application of the refugee);

• the following equation will be used to determine the amount of assistance: “the amount of the requested payment plus housing expenses minus the applicant’s income.” If in the end something remains, then the refugee will be able to receive only this remainder. If the result is negative or equal to zero, the allowance will not be paid at all. If the result is greater than 0, but less than 50 kroner, the amount of the allowance will be 50 kroner;

• a refugee can submit an application for the first payment of humanitarian aid both electronically and in writing. For the second and subsequent payments – only in electronic form;

• assistance will not be provided if the address of permanent residence specified in the application form does not coincide with the address in the register of tenants.

Read: The Czech Republic received the first compensation from the European Union for military assistance to Ukraine. In addition, the bill contains the following innovations:

• a single state register of refugees will be created;

• the procedure for obtaining the qualification of a speech therapist will be simplified. Due to the influx of refugees, a significant part of whom are children, there is an acute shortage of doctors in this specialty in the Czech Republic;

• the period of provision of free housing by the state to refugees will be limited to 150 days from the moment of obtaining the status of temporary protection. An exception is made for Ukrainians who meet the criteria for the payment of humanitarian aid, that is, they are in a difficult financial situation;

• if a refugee who was provided with free housing without good reason stops using it for 10 consecutive days, he will lose the right to stay in the facility.

If the draft law is supported by the deputies in the second reading, and then by the Senate, it will enter into force in April 2023.

The new rules for the payment of humanitarian aid will come into effect later — from July 2023. At the same time, it is possible that the content of the document may change.

Source: Ministry of Finance

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