Persons granted international protection are entitled to social benefits under same conditions as Slovenian citizens. Social benefits consist of services, cash benefits and financial assistance for persons who do not have sufficient means of subsistence. In addition, you may be entitled for different family benefits, depending on your income.
If you do not have any income or your income is lower than the minimum income defined every year by the government (EUR 484,88/month in 2024), you can apply for financial social assistance. The authority granting financial social assistance are the Centers for Social Work. There are 16 regional Centers for Social Work. You should approach the Center for Social Work closest to you. You can find the addresses and contacts of the centers on the following website Centri za socialno delo Slovenije (csd-slovenije.si) (Slovenian language).
You can visit your local Centre for Social Work each Monday from 8.00 to 12.00 and 13.00 to 15.00, each Wednesday from 8.00 to 12.00 or from 13.00 to 17.00 or on Fridays from 8.00 to 12.00.
To be granted financial social assistance, you must meet the following conditions:
- you or your family members have no assets enabling your subsistence and there are no other subsistence options;
- you are actively seeking solution to your problem (If you can work, you must be registered with the Employment Service, participate in their programs, and actively seek employment.)
The amount of financial social assistance depends on the size of your household, the specific needs of its members, and your participation in active labor market policies. For a detailed calculation, please contact your local Centre for Social Work or visit the website of the Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities, where this information is available (in Slovenian language).
If you are eligible for financial social assistance, you are also entitled to a full coverage of mandatory health insurance.
In exceptional circumstances emergency financial social assistance may be granted and must be used only for the specific purpose for which it was approved. If you are experiencing material hardship, contact your local Centre for Social Work to determine your eligibility for this type of assistance.
If a family member, who was living with you in Slovenia, has passed away, you may be eligible for assistance to help cover the cost of funeral (€970 in 2024) and a one-time emergency financial social assistance payment following the death of a family member (€485 in 2024).
There are also the following other benefits available, depending on your individual situation:
- child benefit (Slovenian and English language) and different child allowances (childbirth allowance , parental benefits , large family allowance , partial payment for lost income) (Slovenian language);
- minimum pension support; (Slovenian and English language)
- school meal subsidy; (English language)
- reduced kindergarten payment; (English language)
- right to have the difference to the full value of healthcare services covered; (English language)
- working activity benefit (Slovenian language)
- rent subsidy (Slovenian language)
- long-term care (Slovenian language)