Slovakia has launched a new support programme for single parents, lone parents and sole carers. The two-year pilot project began at the start of February and is fully funded by European Union resources. Interest has been high, with 230 people registering in the first week alone. Single parents can apply for assistance in person at counselling centres offering comprehensive support. According to the Ministry of Labour, 46 such centres have now been established across Slovakia.
Kristián Gregor from the network of comprehensive counselling centres explained that each client goes through an initial intake process. He said parents are welcomed by a frontline worker who introduces the project, collects basic information and carries out an initial assessment of the client’s situation before they are formally registered.
Once eligibility is confirmed, parents gain year-round access to a team of professionals, including psychologists, lawyers, economists and specialised staff such as case managers or peer guides with personal experience. Parents who join the programme in February become eligible for support from March. Financial assistance must be requested separately and ranges from 100 to 200 euros per month, depending on the number of dependent children.
Labour Minister Erik Tomáš (HLAS-SD) said support will be tailored to each individual case. According to the minister, personalised programmes will address specific needs, whether related to survivor benefits, financial stability or finding employment.
The Ministry of Labour is working with several non-governmental organisations on the project, drawing on their long-standing experience with single-parent families. Single-parent households remain among the most vulnerable groups in Slovakia in terms of poverty and social exclusion. According to the Statistical Office, there are around 180,000 such families with dependent children nationwide.
Source: STVR, TASR
