The increase in monthly allowances is not the only change awaiting caregiver parents this year. Over 1,550 caregiver parents in the Federation of BiH will experience changes regarding the amount of their allowance, which will rise by 381 BAM compared to the previous year. This increase in the allowance is linked to the decision of the Government of the Federation of BiH regarding the minimum wage, which for this year amounts to 1,000 BAM. The monthly allowance for caregiver parents aligns with the minimum wage, and therefore it will be adjusted every year.
The Federal Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Adnan Delić, announced amendments to the Law on Caregiver Parents, aiming to improve the rights of this category of citizens and reduce administrative obstacles identified in the current application of the law. According to him, key changes will involve expanding the group of individuals who can acquire the status of caregiver parents. Thus, the right to obtain this status will apply not only to parents but also to spouses, common-law partners, relatives of the child or stepchild, as well as siblings.
The amendments to the law also include the removal of the current limitation that requires a child with a disability to spend less than four hours a day in an educational, healthcare, or social institution in order for a parent to acquire the status of caregiver parent. Under the new changes, a parent will be able to receive the allowance regardless of the number of hours the child spends in these institutions, as long as the parent provides the necessary care and assistance to the child during their time at the institution.
Additionally, the proposed amendments to the law include three models for increasing the monthly allowance, aiming to better align it with the real cost of living. In order to qualify for the allowance, parents will still need to submit an application to the relevant social work center. The Law on Caregiver Parents, which came into force in September 2021, began to be implemented on December 30 of the same year. It covers parents of individuals with a 100% disability caused by illness or developmental disorders, as well as parents of blind individuals whose remaining vision in both eyes is less than 0.05 with correction, or parents of individuals who, according to the Institute for Medical Expertise of Health Condition, are unable to live independently or meet basic life needs such as mobility, eating, dressing, personal hygiene, or performing other physiological needs.
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