New Croatian Regulation Enhances Personal Assistance Services

Croatia is set to implement a new regulation concerning personal assistance services, which will take effect on June 6, 2026. This new framework, published in Narodne novine, aims to standardize and professionalize the assessment of individuals' needs for personal assistance, aligning with a Constitutional Court decision from December 2025.

The regulation establishes a Commission for assessing user needs for personal assistance. This commission will evaluate requirements based on objective, professional, and individualized criteria, considering not only the user's degree of disability and health status but also their real-life circumstances, family situation, financial status, and social environment. This comprehensive approach ensures that assistance is tailored to the unique realities of each user's life.

Under the new rules, personal assistance can be provided for up to 24 hours per day. Eligibility is determined through the assessment process, and individuals can receive services regardless of their age. Importantly, even individuals whose parents or other family members serve as caregivers are eligible if a genuine need for personal assistance is identified through the assessment.

The regulation also allows the Commission to grant more hours of personal assistance than typically listed for certain activities if specific circumstances warrant it. Conversely, the number of hours may be reduced if the user is already receiving comparable support from other services, such as classroom assistants during school, daycare services, or other social welfare programs. This ensures that personal assistance complements, rather than duplicates, existing support systems. During the public consultation phase, 332 comments were received, with 47 partially or fully accepted, indicating a collaborative effort in finalizing the regulation.