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Family and children

Životní minimum

minimum cost of living

What does “Životní minimum” mean in Czechia?

Životní minimum (ŽM) — the minimum income level that the Czech state uses to calculate the right to social benefits. The number itself is rarely needed on its own: it works as a multiplier in the conditions for other benefits.

Amounts

  • jednotlivec (a person living alone) — 4,860 Kč
  • child under 6 years old — 3,490 Kč
  • child 6–10 years old — 4,188 Kč

For a shared household, ŽM is made up of separate amounts for each person — according to their age and role in the household.

Where ŽM works as a multiplier

  • super-benefit, a component of livelihood — income up to 1.43× ŽM
  • bonus for a child — income up to 4× ŽM
  • maternity grant — decisive income less than 2.7× ŽM
  • humanitarian benefit for the first 150 days is paid exactly in the amount of ŽM

Do not confuse

Existenční minimum — a lower amount (3,130 Kč) with a different role.

Important. The rates for ŽM are set by government regulation and they change. At the time this material was prepared, a change was being prepared, but its date and new amounts are not officially confirmed. Before calculating, check the current government regulation: super-help, maternity grant, and humanitarian benefit also depend on ŽM.

Examples of use

SK
The subsistence minimum for one person is 4,860 CZK.
The minimum cost of living for a single person is 4,860 CZK.
SK
You can get maternity benefit if your income is lower than 2.7 times the minimum living standard.
The right to maternity benefit arises when income is lower than 2.7 times the subsistence minimum.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I need to know the subsistence minimum?
From it, they calculate the super-contribution (1.43 × ŽM), the child bonus (4 × ŽM), and the maternity grant (2.7 × ŽM).
How is the minimum wage different from the subsistence minimum?
The subsistence minimum (existenční minimum) is lower (3,130 CZK) — this is the minimum for survival; ŽM is the basic amount for most social benefits.

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