As the Czech Republic has been hit by floods from 13 September, lawmakers have approved aid through emergency legislation for people who cannot work because of the floods due to having to look after their close family. The so-called flood caregiver allowance allows you to receive support to take care of your loved ones when schools, pre-school or day care centres for children and disabled people are closed.

The flood caregiver allowance will be payable for the duration of the closure of the facility from 13 September 2024, but no later than 31 March 2025. The standard amount of the caregiver allowance is 60% of the reduced daily assessment base for each calendar day of care.

Who can apply for flood caregiver allowance?

• Employees who normally care for loved ones under the rules for caregiver allowance.
• Employees working under agreements to perform work or to work and people employed in so-called small-scale employment, if they are covered by sickness insurance.
• Employees who were not covered by sickness insurance in the month they started caring can still receive caregiver allowance. The condition is that they had been insured for at least 3 months in a row before this month and the need for care arose due to the effects of the flood.
• Self-employed people who pay sickness insurance at least 3 months before the need for care arises.

Under what conditions is flood caregiver allowance paid?

• If you have to look after a child under 10 who attends a closed school/childcare centre.
• If you are caring for a person who is in need of care and is dependent on the help of another person for at least a level I dependency (even over the age of 10), if they are unable to attend the school or facility they are in because of the flooding.
• If you are caring for a dependent child with special educational needs and the child is unable to attend school or a special school because of the floods.

In order to receive the flood caregiver allowance, you must fill in a special form available on the ePortal of the Czech Social Security Administration. The employee forwards the original form to his/her employer (electronically by e-mail, physically), who then attaches the employee’s request to a separate form “Employer's records for the application for child/other person caregiver allowance for a calendar month due to flooding (valid for the period 13 September 2024 – 31 March 2025)” and sends it electronically to the relevant contact point of the Czech Social Security Administration.

A self-employed person can submit the form via his/her data box, via the ePortal, by e-mail (electronic signature required) or physically by post.