In force from 1 October 2026
Definition of Living and Subsistence Minimum
- Living Minimum is a socially recognized minimum level of income to ensure sustenance and other basic personal needs.
- Subsistence Minimum is a minimum level of income, which is considered to be necessary to ensure sustenance and other basic personal needs at a level allowing the individual to survive. In addition to Living Minimum, the Institute of Subsistence Minimum is introduced in order to increase motivation of adults in material need. Subsistence Minimum cannot be used for dependent children, recipients of an old-age pension, disabled persons at the third level and for persons over the age of 68.
Legislation and the main use
- Living and Subsistence Minimum, including the current amounts, is regulated by the Act No. 110/2006 Coll., on Living and Subsistence Minimum.
- The main use of Living and Subsistence Minimum is in the Act No. 151/2025 Coll., on the State Social Assistance Allowance, where it is used to determine entitlement to individual components of the benefit and, together with the Subsistence Minimum, affects the overall benefit amount.
Housing Costs
- Living Minimum and Subsistence Minimum do not include the necessary Housing Costs.
- Housing needs are solved separately, through the State Social Assistance Allowance.
Living and Subsistence Minimum
(monthly in CZK)
Living Minimum (Životní minimum)
| Single | 5 500 |
| First person in household | 5 000 |
| Second and other persons who are not a dependant child | 3 750 |
| Dependant child aged | |
| under 6 years | 2 480 |
| 6 - 15 years | 3 050 |
| 15 - 26 years | 3 490 |
Subsistence Minimum (Existenční minimum)
| Subsistence Minimum | 3 130 |
Examples - Living Minimum (monthly in CZK) for
| Single person household | 5 500 |
| 2 adults | 5 000 + 3 750 = 8 750 |
| 1 adult with one child aged 5 years | 5 000 + 2 480 = 7 480 |
| 2 adults with one child aged 5 years | 5 000 + 3 750 + 2 480 = 11 230 |
| 2 adults with 2 children aged 8 and 16 years | 5 000 + 3 750 + 3 050 + 3 490 = 15 290 |
| 2 adults with 3 children aged 5, 8 and 16 years | 5 000 + 3 750 + 2 480 + 3 050 + 3 490 = 17 770 |
The government is authorized to increase the amounts of Living and Subsistence Minimum on January 1 if growth of consumer price index for sustenance and personal needs reaches at least 5 %. In case of extraordinary circumstances the amounts can be indexed sooner.