Sickness, quarantine or isolation of a child – when are you entitled to a child care benefit?
29.11.2021
A person covered by sickness insurance is entitled to a benefit in the event that he/she has to take care of a sick child, including if the child was placed under isolation or quarantine. A parent who has to take care of a healthy child aged 8 or less due to unexpected closure of the establishment attended by that child is also entitled to a child care benefit.
Caring for a sick child
A parent who has to take care of a sick child for whom a doctor has issued a medical certificate is entitled to child care benefit. The number of days for which the benefit is payable depends on the age and disability of the child. Child care benefit can be received for a maximum of:
- 60 days in a calendar year – if care concerns a sick child (including a child with a disability) aged 14 or less,
- 14 days in a calendar year – if care concerns a sick child aged over 14,
- 30 days in a calendar year – if care concerns a sick child with a disability aged 14-18.
Caring in the event of quarantine or isolation of a child
A parent is entitled to child care benefit on account of caring for a child who was placed under home quarantine or isolation (under the Act on prevention and combating of infections and infectious diseases in humans). The requirement to isolate or quarantine a child is treated as a sickness of that child.
Child care benefit in the event of isolation or quarantine of a child is payable for the same period as for taking care of a sick child (depends on the age and disability of the child).
Caring for a healthy child aged 8 or less
You are also eligible for child care benefit if you have to take care of a healthy child aged 8 or less in situations strictly specified in regulations, including in the event of unforeseen closure of a nursery school, a children’s club, a kindergarten or a school which the child attends. Closure of an establishment is defined as closure of the entire establishment as well as closure of e.g. a class or a kindergarten group. Closure of an establishment is unforeseen if the insured person found out about it less than 7 days before the closure.
Child care benefit for taking care of a healthy child aged 8 or less is payable for a maximum of 60 days in a calendar year.
Prerequisite for payment of the benefit
You are eligible for child care benefit if there are no other persons who are living in the same household and can take care of the child. This does not apply to taking care of a sick child aged 2 or less; in this case, you are eligible for child care benefit even if other family members could take care of the child.
The following persons are not deemed family members who are living in the same household and can take care of the child:
- persons who are completely unable to work;
- sick persons;
- persons who are physically or mentally disabled due to age;
- persons who run an agricultural holding;
- workers who are resting after working a night shift;
- persons who run a non-agricultural business;
- persons who are not obliged to take care of the child under provisions of the Family and Guardianship Code, if they refuse to take care of the child.
Total limit on the number of days in a year for which the benefit can be paid
The total period for which the benefit for taking care of children and other family members can be paid may not exceed 60 days in a calendar year. If the care concerns only children with a disability (aged 8-18, or 14-18 if they are also sick) and other sick family members (aged 14 or above), the total period for which the benefit can be paid may not exceed 30 days.
The above limits on the number of days for which the benefit can be paid are not dependent on:
- the number of children and family members who require care;
- the number of persons entitled to the benefit.