With the adoption of the Law on Parent Caregivers and Caregivers, the Republic of Serbia has made a significant step forward in its social protection system and support for families.
For the first time, the state has formally recognized and valued the work of parents who provide continuous, 24-hour care for children with the most severe developmental disabilities and impairments. The new law introduces a monthly allowance of 65,000 Serbian dinars (approximately €555), along with mandatory pension, disability, and health insurance contributions.
As a result, the time parents spend caring for their children will now count toward their pensionable years of service, providing not only immediate financial assistance but also long-term social security. 
Serbia Is One of the Regional Leaders
When compared with other countries in the Western Balkans, Serbia stands out, second only to Croatia, as having one of the most comprehensive support systems for parent caregivers.
Croatia introduced parent caregiver status as early as 2007 and therefore has a longer tradition in this area. Today, the standard monthly benefit amounts to €663.61, parents whose children cannot participate in community-based programs receive €796.34, while a parent who independently cares for two or more children with severe disabilities may receive as much as €995.42 per month.
Although these amounts exceed Serbia’s €555 monthly allowance, it should be noted that Croatia has been a member of the European Union for many years and enjoys considerably stronger economic capacity and a higher standard of living.
The situation is markedly different in the rest of the Western Balkans. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Albania do not have a comprehensive legal framework granting parents caregiver status together with pension credits and social insurance contributions.
Support is generally limited to basic care allowances, which are often below €200–300 per month. This is why Serbia has become the regional leader among non-EU countries by combining three essential forms of support: direct financial assistance, full social insurance coverage, and recognition of caregiving as pensionable service.
Ahead of Many Countries in Southern and Eastern Europe
Serbia also compares favorably with a number of countries in Southern and Eastern Europe.
Poland offers generous child disability benefits and tax incentives for families raising children with disabilities, but it does not provide a unified parent caregiver status that includes both a monthly allowance and full social security contributions.
Hungary has an extensive family support policy, including subsidized loans and numerous incentives for larger families. However, it does not provide a caregiver benefit for parents providing round-the-clock care that includes pension credits comparable to those available in Serbia.
Romania and Bulgaria generally provide lower benefits, typically ranging between €200 and €400 per month, while Greece, Italy, and Spain rely largely on regional support programs, with benefits varying depending on local government budgets and regional policies.
When Serbia’s 65,000-dinar allowance is considered together with mandatory pension, disability, and health insurance contributions, as well as future pension rights, its system ranks alongside or above that of many countries in Southern and Eastern Europe.
Which Countries Provide More Comprehensive Support?
The most developed European countries, including Sweden, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, and France, continue to offer stronger support systems, which is hardly surprising given their economic strength and decades of investment in social welfare.
In Sweden, parents may receive government-funded personal assistance services together with a care allowance, resulting in support whose overall value frequently exceeds €1,000 to €2,000 per month.
In Germany, the Pflegegeld care allowance ranges from approximately €300 to more than €900, while parents may also be formally employed as caregivers under certain circumstances.
In France, the Allocation d’éducation de l’enfant handicapé (AEEH) can exceed €1,200 per month, accompanied by pension credits and an extensive network of community-based support services.
These countries have spent decades developing respite care services, day-care centers, personal assistance programs, and other forms of family support. Serbia cannot reach that level overnight, but this new law lays a solid foundation for further development and continued alignment with European standards.
How Is This Issue Regulated in the United States?
Unlike Serbia and many European countries, the United States has no single federal law establishing the legal status of a “parent caregiver.” Support depends largely on the state of residence, household income, and eligibility for individual assistance programs.
The primary nationwide mechanism is Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which provides monthly benefits for children with disabilities, typically between $800 and $1,200, depending on the state and the family’s circumstances.
In many states, parents or other close relatives may receive compensation as caregivers through Medicaid HCBS Waivers (Home and Community-Based Services), often earning approximately $10 to $20 per hour, depending on the approved number of caregiving hours. However, participation usually requires certification, extensive administrative procedures, and often depends on meeting income eligibility requirements.
Unlike Serbia, the United States does not automatically recognize caregiving years as pensionable service, while the Child and Dependent Care Credit provide only limited tax relief.
Although some states, such as California and New York, offer relatively generous caregiver programs, the American system remains uneven, highly decentralized, and considerably more dependent on local policies. Many families continue to rely on private foundations, charitable organizations, and community support.
By comparison, Serbia’s new law reflects a more European model based on social solidarity, whereas the American approach places greater emphasis on state-level policies and individual circumstances.
A Strong Foundation for Future Improvements
Although it is clear that 65,000 dinars cannot fully cover the costs of therapies, medications, medical equipment, and home adaptations, the new law represents a major step forward. There remains room to expand eligibility criteria and further improve the system, particularly for employed parents and the most demanding caregiving situations. Nevertheless, the most important achievement is that Serbia has, for the first time, established a comprehensive legal framework recognizing parent caregivers.
The Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs has already announced that the monthly allowance will be adjusted in line with wage growth, while parent associations will actively participate in monitoring the implementation of the law and proposing future improvements.
International experience demonstrates that caregiver support systems evolve over time. Croatia has increased benefit levels on several occasions, while Scandinavian countries gradually transformed modest beginnings into some of the world’s most comprehensive family support systems.
For this reason, the new legislation should not be viewed as the final destination but rather as the beginning of an important reform process. By adopting this law, Serbia has demonstrated that it recognizes the needs of families who shoulder one of society’s greatest responsibilities and is prepared to provide meaningful institutional support.
Further improvements, including higher benefits, greater flexibility, and expanded community services, are expected in the years ahead. Even at this stage, however, Serbia has taken a significant step toward European standards and established one of the most comprehensive parent caregiver support systems in the region.
