Slovakia’s living minimum for a single-parent household with one dependent child is about 414 euros a month, a level experts say is far from enough to cover housing, food and basic hygiene. The living minimum is updated each July and currently stands at just over 284 euros for a single adult and under 130 euros for a child.
Labour Minister Erik Tomáš (HLAS-SD) says changes are coming, explaining that the government plans to revise not only the amount but also the criteria used to calculate it, with legislative proposals expected later this year.
Several social benefits are tied to the living minimum, including assistance in material need, a protective allowance and housing support.
According to Martin Schuster from the Council for Budget Responsibility, the system has long failed to provide adequate support to the poorest households.
The living minimum is about 630 euros below the minimum wage for an adult and roughly 785 euros lower for a child.
Sociologist Zuzana Kusá adds that human dignity depends not only on income, but also on access to affordable housing, an area where many European countries continue to invest heavily.
Source: STVR
