Nursing leave for children with developmental disabilities

The amount of the financial compensation is EUR 551,80 and the right may last until the age of eight

Time support

One of the employed or self-employed parents of a child with developmental disabilities (a child with severe physical or mental impairment or severe mental illness), after the expiry of the right to maternity leave or in the course of use or after the expiry of the right to parental leave, on the basis of the findings and opinions of the competent body of expertise in accordance with the regulations on compulsory health insurance, shall be entitled to child care leave until the age of 8, provided that both parents are employed or self-employed, both before the start of use and for the entire duration of the leave.

Cash support

An employed or self-employed parent of a child with developmental disabilities (a child with severe physical or mental impairment or severe mental illness) during the exercise of the right to child care leave until the age of 8 is entitled to full-time financial compensation in the amount of 125% of the monthly budget base of EUR 551,80.

Specificities and specific conditions

The decision on the recognition of the right in question is based on the expert-medical expert opinion of the Institute for expertise, Professional rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities, within which expert opinions are drawn on the existence of developmental difficulties in the child, and the recognition of the right depending on the said expert opinion may also be given for a certain period of time (6 months, 12 months, etc.).

Also, when starting the use of the right, as well as during the use of the right, the fact of employment or self-employment of both parents is checked.

In doing so, the beneficiary of leave for the care of a child with severe developmental disabilities is obliged to report any change affecting the use of the recognised right (loss of the status of insured person in compulsory health insurance, termination of the status of an employed or self-employed parent of the beneficiary of the right or other parent, acquisition of the right to leave of one of the parents for the other child, acquisition of the status of parent carer for the child for which leave is used, etc.) within 8 days from the date of the occurrence of that situation, to the CHIF.

If he fails to act in the manner described, he is obliged to compensate the state budget for the damages incurred and the undue receipt, with the corresponding interest within 8 days from the date of receipt of the written notification of the Croatian Health Insurance Fund on the determined circumstances.