On the occasion of World Day of Social Justice (February 20), Ombudswoman Tena Šimonović Einwalter highlights five urgent steps Croatia needs to take in the field of social welfare.
Social Justice and Barriers in Croatia
Social justice means that everyone has equal opportunities from birth to live in dignity, free from poverty and discrimination, with full respect for human rights. However, in Croatia, several significant obstacles remain on that path.
In 2021, the at-risk-of-poverty rate rose to 19.2%, affecting nearly 750,000 citizens. Being at risk of poverty means living on less than €403 per month for a single person or €847 for a family with two children. The most affected are elderly people, especially those living alone—predominantly women—as well as single-parent families and families with three or more children.
- Declining Number of Guaranteed Minimum Benefit Recipients
A key benefit in the social welfare system is the guaranteed minimum benefit, intended for those without enough resources to meet basic needs. The amount depends on individual circumstances—for example, single people receive €132 or €172, while a family with two able-bodied parents and two children receives €371 per month.
However, the number of recipients is declining, with only 30,000 currently receiving the benefit. Therefore, the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy should analyze the reasons behind the decline in guaranteed minimum benefit recipients (1), in order to better target support to those who need it most, especially given record inflation and rising costs of food and utilities, which disproportionately affect the poorest.
- Unequal Benefit Increases
Thanks to the new Social Welfare Act, the guaranteed minimum benefit was increased last year, and all recipients were required to reapply. However, the Act did not specify from which date the increased benefit would apply, placing recipients in an unequal position—some began receiving the higher amount in March, while others continued receiving the lower amount until the end of the year. For single individuals, the monthly difference ranged from €26 to €50, and even more for families.
The Ombudswoman repeatedly recommended to the Ministry that the increased amount should be applied retroactively from February 2022, the date when the new law came into force (2), but this recommendation has not been implemented.
- Citizens Declining Benefits Due to Property Claim Notices
The new Social Welfare Act introduced property claim notices (liens) on the first property of the recipient, whereas previously this was done only if the person owned multiple properties. Due to a lack of clear information, citizens are unsure of what the lien means and fear that the state will “take their house or apartment.” According to available data, at least 530 people have refused this benefit out of fear, even though they cannot meet their basic needs.
Therefore, the Ministry should revise the Act to return to the previous rule—recording a lien only if the recipient owns additional property (3). In any case, it is essential to clearly explain to citizens what the lien entails, so they do not avoid applying for the benefit out of fear.
- Inconsistent Application Forms and Required Documents
A further issue is the inconsistency among regional offices of the Croatian Institute for Social Work (formerly social welfare centers). They do not use uniform application forms or require the same documents for the same benefit.
To address this, the Institute should create standard application forms and a unified list of required documents, which county-level offices would then use for all benefits and services (4).
- Challenges Faced by Homeless People
Among the most vulnerable groups are the homeless, who are also subject to the criminalization and penalization of poverty. They rely heavily on projects that offer basic support, such as accommodation, food, and places to warm up and take shelter during the day. However, these projects are often unstable due to short-term funding, and the organizations that support the homeless have warned that day centers and housing communities may soon shut down.
The Ministry must ensure long-term funding for activities and support services for homeless people (5).
Social Justice: A Goal and a Recommendation
World Day of Social Justice was established by the United Nations in 2007 and is observed annually on February 20.
Social justice extends beyond welfare to include many areas. In Croatia, this means strengthening human rights and ensuring equal access for all citizens. For instance:
- Access to justice requires improvements in free legal aid and reforming the enforcement (debt collection) system.
- Access to healthcare means ensuring health services for all, regardless of whether someone lives in a big city, small town, or on an island, and significantly shortening waiting lists, which currently force those who can afford it to go private, while others must wait.
- The right to adequate housing demands improved access to social housing, adoption of a Housing Strategy, accelerated earthquake reconstruction, and urgent relocation of earthquake victims from containers to proper housing.
These are also the focus of many recommendations in the 2021 report of the Ombudswoman, pointing to reforms the state can implement to address the issues faced by its citizens. The new report is currently being prepared, including updated recommendations, and will be submitted to Parliament by the end of March this year.