Social benefits

Leaving no one behind

Social benefits should help those whose income is below the established minimum, so that the provided financial assistance facilitates their life. In that manner, it is made possible for citizens who are facing difficulties to live with more dignity and awareness that the state looks after them and their needs.

Every individual and family in need of social assistance and support in order to overcome social and life difficulties and creation of conditions for meeting basic living needs have the right to social protection in accordance with the Law on Welfare. The right to social welfare is provided by the provision of social protection services and material support.

 

Within material benefits, the Law on Welfare stipulates the following:

 

  1. right to financial social assistance;
  2. right to allowance for assistance and care of another person;
  3. right to an increased allowance for assistance and care of another person;
  4. special monetary compensation;
  5. training for work;
  6. one-time assistance.

 

Funds for payment of financial social assistance, allowances for assistance and care of another person, increased allowance for assistance and care of another person and special monetary compensation are provided in the budget of the Republic of Serbia, and the provision of one-time assistance (in cash or in kind) is within the jurisdiction of local self-government.

 

Social welfare services are organized as services for children, young people and families and services for adults and elderly, and are provided temporarily and continuously in accordance with the needs and best interests of the beneficiaries.

 

The Law on Welfare stipulates the following services:

 

  1. Accommodation services (home accommodation, accommodation in a relative, foster care or other family for adults and elderly, accommodation in a shelter and other types of accommodation).
  2. Daily community service (daycare, home help, etc.).
  3. Evaluation and planning services (assessment of the condition, needs, strengths and risks of the beneficiary, assessment of the guardian, foster care and adoptive parents, etc.).
  4. Support services for independent living (supported housing, training for independent living, etc.).
  5. Advisory-therapeutic and social-educational services (intensive support services for family in crisis, counselling and support of parents, foster parents, adoptive parents and others).

 

Centres for social work competent according to the place of permanent residence, and exceptionally according to the address, decide about the exercise of rights and the use of services prescribed by the Law on Welfare.  

 

Some of the social benefits for which citizens may apply, depending on the category they belong to, include the following:

 

  • child allowance,
  • special monetary compensation,
  • fee for the subsistence of beneficiaries in the family accommodation,
  • financial social assistance,
  • assistance and care of another person,
  • increased allowance for assistance and care of another person,
  • assistance in training for work,
  • increased and time-limited cash social assistance,
  • other forms of material support (one-time assistance, soup kitchens, subsidies, etc.).

 

Special benefit, within the measure of population policy:

  • parental allowance