The subsistence minimum is the minimum amount of money necessary to provide food and other basic personal needs for survival. Every adult citizen of the Czech Republic who does not have an income of his or her own is entitled to this benefit. The subsistence minimum is a very low amount that is intended primarily to contribute to greater motivation to secure additional income on one’s own and not to rely solely on social benefits from the state.
Minimum subsistence level
The issue of the subsistence minimum is regulated by Act No. 110/2006 Coll., on the subsistence minimum. The amount is determined and increased by a government decree. As of 1 April 2020, the monthly subsistence minimum amount is CZK 2 490. Until 31 March 2020, the amount was CZK 2 200.
When is the subsistence minimum not applicable?
The subsistence minimum cannot be applied to every adult citizen of the Czech Republic without their own income. It cannot be applied, for example, to dependent children, persons in receipt of an old-age pension, disabled persons in the third degree and persons over 68 years of age.
