Child-raising
From 1 January 2023, Act No 323/2021, which introduces the so-called child-raising, enters into force. This increases the percentage amount of the retirement pension by a fixed amount of CZK 500 for each child that the (pensioner) insured has raised. The increase for each child, the so-called child-rearing allowance, will cover both retirement pensions awarded after 31 December 2022, as well as old-age pensions already being paid. Women will be informed of the increase in the percentage amount of the already paid old-age pension for child-raising together with the information on pension valorization from 1 January 2023. For men, an application must be submitted, details can be found below.
Child-raising becomes part of the percentage amount for the old-age pension, which will subsequently be increased as a whole as part of future valorisations. It is not decisive whether the child was brought up in the Czech Republic or abroad. If a person has been awarded an old-age pension in the Czech Republic, she/he is also entitled to child-rearing allowance, i.e. CZK 500 for each child she/he raised over the required period to the fullest extent.
An increase to the old-age pension for a raised child, granted in respect of an international agreement on social security or to the EU coordination regulations in line with the ratio of the insurance periods obtained in the Czech Republic to the total insurance period (the so-called partial pension), the amount of this increase is also determined in proportion corresponding to the same ratio of insurance periods in which the partial pension was granted. Payments abroad can be made only on the basis of a submitted Living Certificate.
Child-raising is due only for a child for whom a parent or other person has personally cared, for at least ten years up to the age of majority. If this person (woman or man) undertakes the raising of a child after its eighth birthday, the condition of having raised the child is fulfilled if she/he personally cares or has cared for the child for at least five years up to the age of majority. In the event that a child dies after its fifth birthday, the child-raising will apply if the woman or man personally cared for the child from its birth until its death.
The raising of the same child cannot be credited to more than one person at the same time for the purposes of the increase for a raised child. Therefore, only one of the parents or another person who cared for the child will be entitled to claim the child-raising benefit; it therefore does not matter whether this is a woman or a man.
Old-age pensions already being paid or awarded before the end of 2022
Women
The old-age pension will be automatically (no application needed) be increased by CZK 500 for each child taken into account when determining the retirement age when awarding a pension. The increase will take place from the pension payment due in January 2023. Women will be informed of the increase together with the information on pension valorization in January 2023.
Women are advised to apply to increase their old-age pension by the child-rearing allowance only if their pension from January 2023 has not automatically been increased by child-rearing allowance for the children they have cared for. In the case of payments abroad, the payment is made only on the basis of a submitted Living Certificate.
Men
This old-age pension will be increased only on the basis of a request submitted on the prescribed form. The request may be submitted no earlier than 1 September 2022 and no later than 31 December 2024 In order for child-rearing allowance to be due, it must be demonstrated that the man is providing personal care to a greater extent than the woman. This fact is demonstrated by an affidavit (which will be part of the application form). In addition to the condition of the greater extent, the condition of the duration of care must be met as well as other general conditions.
Old-age pensions awarded after 31 December 2022 (women and men)
The request for the child-rearing allowance must be sent at the same time as the application for the old-age pension. If the child/children raised is/are not entered in a pension application submitted after 31 December 2022, the child-rearing allowance is not due.
Last update: 7. 2. 2023