Social support for refugees and asylum seekers

Persons granted international protection are entitled to social benefits under same conditions as Slovenian citizens. Social benefits consist of services and financial assistance for persons who do not have sufficient means of subsistence.

If you do not have any income or your income is lower than the minimum income defined every year by the government, 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 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.)

In exceptional circumstances financial social assistance may be granted and used only for the explicit purpose for which it was granted. There are three types of exceptional cash social assistance: income support, bereavement and funeral payment, and social assistance.

There are also the following other benefits available, depending on your individual situation:

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