Sometimes, even accurate information on the types of financial support available and how to access them can be a form of assistance.

Below are the key details – who is eligible for the guaranteed minimum benefit, housing cost allowance, vulnerable energy buyer allowance, and one-time assistance, as well as the respective amounts.

Comprehensive information, application forms, and contact details can be found on the website of the Croatian Social Work Institute, which was improved, among other things, based on the recommendations of the Ombudswoman in 2022.

In addition to these social welfare benefits, information on the national benefit for older persons may also be useful.

Guaranteed Minimum Benefit
This benefit is granted to a person who:

  • does not have sufficient means to meet basic living needs, such as food, clothing, etc., nor can they provide for them through, for example, renting or selling property;
  • does not own a vehicle valued over EUR 2,654.46;
  • has not entered into a life-long support or support until death agreement.

This benefit is not granted to a person who has terminated an employment contract within the last 6 months, nor to a person who is able (or partially able) to work and is not registered with the Croatian Employment Service.

The amount of the guaranteed minimum benefit depends on several factors. As of January 1, 2025, the amounts are:

  • for a work-capable single person – EUR 160
  • for a work-incapable single person – EUR 208
  • for a household with two work-capable adults and one child – EUR 112 per adult and EUR 152 for the child, totaling EUR 376
  • for a household with a single work-capable parent and one child – EUR 232 for the parent and EUR 184 for the child, totaling EUR 416
  • for a household with a single work-incapable parent and one child – EUR 256 for the parent and EUR 184 for the child, totaling EUR 440

As a reminder, the base amount for the guaranteed minimum benefit will increase by EUR 10 on January 1, 2025 – from EUR 150 to EUR 160, based on the Decision on the Base Amount for the Guaranteed Minimum Benefit. During public consultation, the Ombudswoman highlighted that this amount is insufficient to cover basic living needs and that it appears to have been rounded arbitrarily, rather than determined based on actual needs and living costs, particularly in light of the significant price increases in recent years, especially for food.

More information about the guaranteed minimum benefit is available here (e.g., what happens when there is a risk the benefit may be spent for other purposes, what obligations beneficiaries have, and what happens if they breach these obligations).

A person receiving the guaranteed minimum benefit may also be eligible for the housing cost allowance.

Housing Cost Allowance
Housing costs include rent, utility charges, heating costs, water services, and expenses arising from building energy efficiency improvements.

This allowance is granted to recipients of the guaranteed minimum benefit, except for:

  • homeless individuals residing in shelters or hostels or those granted accommodation in organized housing;
  • victims of domestic violence and victims of human trafficking who have been granted crisis accommodation services.

The amount of this allowance can be at least 30% of the guaranteed minimum benefit and is granted by the local municipality or city.

Vulnerable Energy Buyer Allowance
This allowance is granted to:

  • a recipient of the guaranteed minimum benefit;
  • a member of a household receiving the guaranteed minimum benefit;
  • a recipient of the inclusive support allowance (level one, two, or three) who has not been granted residential or organized housing services;
  • a person living in a household with a recipient of the inclusive support allowance (level one, two, or three);
  • a recipient of the personal disability allowance under the Social Welfare Act who has not been granted residential or organized housing services;
  • a person living in a household with a recipient of the personal disability allowance;
  • a recipient of the national benefit for older persons;
  • a person living in a household with a recipient of the national benefit for older persons;
  • a recipient of the financial allowance for unemployed Croatian Homeland War veterans and their family members;
  • a person living in a household with a recipient of the financial allowance for unemployed Croatian Homeland War veterans and their family members;
  • a recipient of the financial allowance for civilian victims of the Homeland War;
  • a person living in a household with a recipient of the financial allowance for civilian victims of the Homeland War.

The current amount of this allowance is up to EUR 26.45, or exceptionally up to EUR 70 per month. These amounts are valid until March 31, 2025, as prescribed by a Government regulation.

One-Time Assistance
This assistance is granted to:

  • an individual or household,
  • to cover extraordinary expenses (such as the birth or education of a child, illness or death of a family member, natural disasters, etc.),
  • in situations where basic living needs cannot be met.

The total annual amount that can be received:

  • for a single person – up to EUR 331.80
  • for a household – up to EUR 464.53
  • in particularly justified cases, when life circumstances require it, a one-time assistance of up to EUR 1,237.23 may be granted once a year.

One-time assistance can also be provided in kind if there is a reasonable risk it will be used for other purposes.

More information about these and other social welfare benefits (e.g., for personal needs – granted to individuals using residential or organized housing services; for funeral expenses; for full-time students; for accommodation costs in student dormitories; the inclusive support allowance; for caregiver parents; for transport costs due to education) is available here.

Application forms for claiming rights in the social welfare system can be found here, and contact information for the Croatian Social Work Institute and its local offices (former social welfare centers) is available here.

National Benefit for Older Persons

This benefit is available to:

  • Croatian citizens,
  • aged 65 and over,
  • with 10 years of continuous residence in Croatia.

Additional conditions:

  • not a pension beneficiary or insured under mandatory pension insurance;
  • personal and/or household member income in the previous calendar year does not exceed EUR 300 per month per household member;
  • not a recipient of the guaranteed minimum benefit;
  • not granted residential accommodation services;
  • has not entered into a life-long support or support until death agreement as the supported party, except in cases where proceedings for termination, annulment, or nullification of the agreement have been initiated.

The current amount of the national benefit for older persons is EUR 150.

More information on this benefit, including how to apply, is available here.