What is financial assistance and who is it intended for?

Financial assistance is a benefit available to persons granted temporary protection who reside in the Republic of Slovenia, and is intended to cover basic living costs. 

Entitlement to financial assistance is decided by the Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants, which is also responsible for its payment. 

What amount of financial assistance can I receive?

The amount of financial assistance is determined as a percentage of the basic minimum income according to the following criteria:

• 85% for the first adult;
• 42% for each additional adult family member;
• 44% for a child whom the applicant is legally obliged to support under the regulations governing maintenance obligations, i.e. for as long as the applicant is obliged to support said child;
• 62% for a child referred to above who lives in a single-parent family;
• 85% for an unaccompanied minor;
• 110% for women over 63 years of age and men over 65 years of age, regardless of whether they are the first or an additional adult in the household.

If you have your own income or property (assets), or if you are supported by persons legally obliged to support you, the amount of financial assistance is determined by deducting the average amount of your income and benefits, which you received in the three months preceding the submission of the application for financial assistance, from the basic minimum income. 

For the family of the person granted temporary protection, the amount of financial assistance is calculated as the difference between the sum of minimum income amounts applicable to the applicant and their individual family members and the sum of the amounts of income, benefits and property of the person eligible to financial assistance and their individual family members received in the three months preceding the submission of the application for financial assistance. 

What conditions must I meet to be eligible for financial assistance?

To be eligible for financial assistance, you must meet the following conditions:

• both you and your family members for whom you are exercising the right must have been the temporary protection status recognised;
• you must reside in the Republic of Slovenia and have a registered temporary residence;
• you must be accommodated at a private address or an accommodation where meals are not provided;
• if you are an adult, you must be registered as an unemployed person with the Employment Service of Slovenia provided you are eligible to register;
• your income, benefits and property must not exceed the minimum income threshold;
• you must not be supported by persons who are legally obliged to support you. 

Mandatory documentation

The Application for Exercising the Right to Financial Assistance must be submitted by post or in person during office hours at the Office.

The following must be attached to the application:

• a statement of all transactions on all payment and cash accounts of the person granted temporary protection, their family members and persons legally obliged to support them for the three months preceding the month in which the application is submitted;
• a statement of balances on all payment and cash accounts of the person granted temporary protection, their family members and persons legally obliged to support them on the date the application is submitted;
• a copy of the employment contract or copies of other contracts relating to the performance of work;
• other evidence of income, benefits, property and circumstances relevant to the right to financial assistance.

Additional explanations regarding supporting documents:

All statements for all active transaction accounts for the entire relevant period (in Slovenia, Ukraine or another country, including online banks such as Revolut, Wise or Zen) must be submitted for the applicant, their family members and persons legally obliged to support them. Bank statements must be provided by each person older than 15 years. If a person does not hold a bank account, they must submit a declaration. The statements must show all transactions. If a transaction account has been closed, a certificate from the bank confirming the closure of the account must be submitted.

If a person receives income or other payments, they must submit all documentation on the basis of which such income or payments are received, as well as evidence of property, in particular:

• a copy of the employment contract or copies of other contracts relating to the performance of work;
• copies of payslips for the four months preceding the month in which the application is submitted;
• a certificate confirming education abroad;
• proof of ownership of movable property;
• copies of vehicle registration certificates for vehicles registered abroad.

The person must also submit proof that income payments have ceased, where applicable.

If an unaccompanied minor applicant has a guardian and the guardian receives income on behalf of the applicant (for example child benefit), appropriate supporting documentation must be attached.

To report income that citizens of Ukraine receive or have ceased to receive in Ukraine, persons may submit an OK-5 or OK-7 certificate issued by the Pension Fund of Ukraine, together with an extract from the tax register. A person who is entitled to a pension (if this is not evident from bank statements or if the pension was received in cash) must submit a document from the Pension Fund containing an extract of the pension payments. If a person is not entitled to a pension, they must submit a document from the Pension Fund of Ukraine confirming that they are not or are not yet entitled to a pension.

For children up to the age of three years old, a declaration and proof of receipt of child benefit in Ukraine must be provided.

Assistance Payment

Financial assistance is paid monthly by the Office into the bank account of the person granted temporary protection. 

If a person granted temporary protection is unable to open a bank account, the financial assistance may be paid in cash at premises designated by the Office.

The Office will begin paying the assistance only after the decision granting financial assistance has been served on you.

REPORTING CHANGES

Beneficiaries must report all circumstances or changes affecting the granting or payment of financial assistance for private accommodation using the prescribed form within eight days from the date the change occurred or from the date they became aware of it.

You are also required to inform the Office of any absence from the Republic of Slovenia.