The Czech Labor Office (ÚP ČR) had paid out a total of CZK 121 639 011 for this benefit since last July when the new law on substitute maintenance came into force. There were 9662 applications, and the average monthly benefit amount was CZK 1,805.
“From July 1, 2021, to July 31, 2022, the Labour Office has paid a total of 67 393 benefits of substitute maintenance for CZK 121 639 011,” the Labour Office said.
There were 7,449 individual claimants and 9,662 applications submitted. For example, if a mother applies for replacement maintenance for several children, she will apply for each of her children.
“The Czech Labour Office records 7,449 unique representatives of the applicant (child). 85% of them are women. The current average monthly amount of the substitute maintenance benefit is CZK 1,805,” the Office specified.
The Office pointed out that there is no parity between the number of applications and the number of children to whom the benefit is paid, as up to two applications for substitute maintenance can be submitted for one child at the same time (if the maintenance obligation has been established for both parents).
At the same time, the number of debtors cannot be inferred from the number of applications, as one debtor may have more than one child.
The State cannot yet recover maintenance from debtors
The law on substitute maintenance came into force on July 1, 2021. It is a benefit to help children whose parents, or both parents, fail to meet their maintenance obligations. Maintenance is paid by the State through the Labour Office and should be recovered from the debtors.
However, this has not yet happened in any case because the claim is transferred to the State only after 24 monthly maintenance payments have been made. The State can make this maximum number of replacement maintenance payments.
“Since the said law came into force on July 1, 2021, this period has not yet expired, and hence the transfer of claims to the state could not take place,” the authorities said.
A prior application for execution or judicial execution is a condition for applying. The amount of replacement maintenance is set for four calendar months, after which it must be used again.
“The Office of the Czech Republic has prepared for the new plan very carefully in advance, which is why the administration of the replacement maintenance is taking place nationwide without any significant problems. The substitute maintenance is fulfilling its purpose,” the Office stated.