Who the bill is meant to help
The bill is aimed at families where one adult does not work because they spend their time caring for a child with serious health or developmental needs. The June 20 N1 summary shows that a diagnosis alone is not enough: the child must already be receiving Serbia's enhanced care-and-assistance allowance. On July 6, Minister Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski spoke about 65,000 dinars a month, pension and health contributions, and keeping other child-related payments in place.
Why the draft is disputed
The law had been promised for years, but the real argument began once details of the draft emerged. On March 30 the ministry said the draft was ready, and by April 2 parents were already protesting because they had not seen the full text and feared that some families would be excluded from the start. After June 20, it became clearer why the dispute persisted. The draft ties support to formal conditions, and families fear the law could remain too narrow for families living with constant care duties who do not fit neatly into that framework.
Where things stand now
As of July 8, 2026, the bill had reached parliament. News reports from July 6 and 7 showed that the debate was still underway, and there was no public report then of a final vote. Officials point to October as the month when the first payments could start, but that is still only a promise. The figure of 3,270 families versus roughly 50,000 is also not an official state count: it is a contested estimate used by SSP leader Dragan Đilas in the debate.
Who could still be left out
One point is clear: the draft is written for a non-working parent of a child who already receives the enhanced allowance. For working parents, pensioners, caregivers older than 65, or relatives who are not parents, it is still unclear whether this status would apply. Another gap concerns children who clearly need constant care but still do not meet the formal threshold for the enhanced allowance. For those families, the practical question is simple: will the law recognize that daily care and provide financial support for it.
What families are waiting for next
Families are now waiting for two things. First, will MPs widen the group of recipients before the vote. Second, if the law passes, will the state clearly explain who applies, which documents are needed, when the money should start arriving, and what happens if the caregiver needs sick leave, time off, or temporary replacement.