The State has an obligation to take special care of children temporarily or permanently deprived of parental care in order to ensure their wellbeing and development. Such a situation can arise if the parents of the child have passed away or if they are otherwise unable or unwilling to take care of the child.
Read more about the situations when a child has been deprived of parental care, such as suspension or withdrawal of parental custody, the child's separation from their family or adoption.
In Lithuania, there are several ways that the State and municipalities provide support for children left without parental care.
note The support available for children without parental care and for persons who have undertaken their care can be subject to change. You can learn about the current types of support applicable in your situation in the law or contact the competent public institution in your situation, for example, your municipality.
If one of the parents has passed away, the child is entitled to a pension which is provided for the loss of a supporter. The pension is paid to:
- children up to 18 years old or up to 24 years of age where they are enrolled in full time education
- children of the deceased person if they have been recognized as disabled before reaching the age of 24
You can learn more about the pension for the loss of a supporter and the current amount of the pension in the website of the State Social Insurance Fund.
Other support
When turning 18, the child who has lost both parents is entitled to support from the municipality which has decided on his/her out-of-family care:
- one-time financial support for the start of an independent life and purchasing articles of first necessity
note the municipality can also provide these articles free of charge
- financial and other support in finding and maintaining accommodation (accommodation allowance)
Some municipalities also provide additional support which is not mentioned above. To learn more about the support provided in your municipality and how to receive it, please, contact the social services or social department in your municipality. You can also contact non-governmental organizations working in the field.
The care of a child in foster families or other family-oriented environment is preferable to institutionalized out-of-family care. Therefore, the child’s guardians or foster family is entitled to a monthly allowance.
Additional support is available for children in the educational system until they turn 24 years old.
Guardians and foster families can access the social services provided in your municipality and services of the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service. You can find more information about available help on the website of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
A person who has adopted a child has the right to receive remuneration for the adoption of a child. It is a monthly allowance paid soon after the adoption of a child, for up to 24 months but no longer than the child turns 18 years old. Additionally, adopters receive the same social benefits as every parent, such as, for example, parental benefit.
You can learn more about the support for adopters by contacting your municipality.
Read more about adoption.