Cash and Voucher Assistance

Financial aid is available to people who are:

• Temporary Protection status holder who arrived to Slovakia after 24th of Feb 2022, AND
• Person currently living in Slovakia, AND
• Age: 18+, AND
• Not covered by the health insurance in Slovakia, AND
• Diagnosis of one of the following chronic non-communicable diseases by a medical professional:
  Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  Ischemic heart disease (for example previous heart attack) 
  Dyslipidemia (for example hypercholesterolemia) 
  Stroke
  Heart insufficiency / Heart failure (the heart is unable to pump blood properly)
  Diabetes 
  Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism (thyroid gland malfunction)
  Asthma (chronic lung disease that makes it harder to breather)
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (for example COPD)
  Rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatism) 
  Psoriasis, atopic dermatitis or other chronic skin condition 
  Cancer 

Slovak Red Cross with support of IFRC and other actors present in Slovak Republic identified that displaced people from Ukraine suffering from chronic diseases without insurance in Slovakia face barriers when it comes to access to health. These are mostly language barrier, access to information, higher monthly costs for medicines, health treatment and examinations due to bureaucratic difficulties which affect the coverage by insurance.

Based on information collected, assessments and other formal information about the access to health care in Slovakia, patient with these chronical diseases constitute the majority of the patient accessing the health care.

The amount of financial assistance being provided is 60 Euro per month, for three months.

If the application is approved, eligible individuals with chronic illness without insurance will receive the cash allowance once a month, for three months.

Download the app and follow the instructions.

For Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/%D0%BF%D1%96%D0%B4%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BA%D0%B0/id1619005116

For Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.ifrc.self_registration

You can find information materials that will help you with the use of the self-registration application. In case of technical or other problems you can also reach our helpline and the helpline operators will guide you through the application via phone. In case this will not solve the problems, you are facing, the helpline can refer you to the closest Humanitarian Service Points, where our workers will support you. Remember that not all the Slovak Red Cross offices are able to support you with the registration or other issues about cash assistance, it is only the Humanitarian Service Points mentioned below. if you reside somewhere not easy to reach listed Humanitarian Service Points, please reach our helpline for support.   Please see the list of locations: Banská Bystrica, Čadca, Dolný Kubín, Dunajská Streda, Humenné, Košice, Liptovský Mikuláš, Michalovce, Nitra, Nové Zámky, Poprad, Prievidza, Rimavská Sobota, Topoľčany, Žilina. Please, see the opening hours and all the relevant information.

We will review your application once received and we will inform you via SMS/notification and/or helpline about the decision after 14 days after application submission (earliest).

The only way to apply for this specific cash assistance program is using the self-registration application called “AccessRC” developed by the Red Cross. This self-registration application enables you to create an account to apply for this program. Currently, there is only this program available. Once you create your account, if you want to apply for financial assistance please find “Programs” section in the app and fill in the application form for the program. The form contains specific questions which you will be required to answer in order to evaluate your eligibility for the program. Once you submit the application, it will take at least two weeks for your application to be reviewed. Here is how you can apply step by step:

1. Download the app, searching “AccessRC” (please replicate the exact spelling) in your Google Play or Apple Store

The registration app is available for download for both iOS and Android.  

2. Create your account to apply for cash assistance and any other services offered by the Red Cross. However, creating an account only does not mean that you applied for assistance.

3. Apply for cash assistance in “programs” section by answering all the required questions for each family member and submit your application

No. Creating an account from the mobile application is only the first step in applying for the financial assistance program. After creating an account, to apply for cash assistance you should visit the “Programs” section in the app. In the “programs” section, select the assistance program and fill in the program application form.

You may approach your family members having a smartphone to help you to apply. It is possible to use one smartphone, and have different accounts in one AccessRC application. Also, you can visit our Humanitarian Service Points Banská Bystrica, Čadca, Dolný Kubín, Dunajská Streda, Humenné, Košice, Liptovský Mikuláš, Michalovce, Nitra, Nové Zámky, Poprad, Prievidza, Rimavská Sobota, Topoľčany, Žilinafor help. Remember your log in credentials and password; and do not share it with anyone. Please, be aware of all the risks related to sharing your personal data with other people. If you use other people’s phones, please do not forget to log out to protect your information.

You will need to provide a photo of physical identification documents when registering (ID, international passport, driving license,). Please use those documents which include your photo; if you do not have one please reach us on our helpline +421 910 910 116. Please note that the Temporary Protection certificate, electronically saved pictures of documents are not acceptable for identity verification.

Donors have donated money to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for the purpose of helping people displaced by crisis in Ukraine. We use your identification documents to verify and authenticate the applicants for the cash program. The documents also help to facilitate proper cash distribution to people who meet the eligibility criteria.

The financial assistance program is only for people living currently in Slovakia; so in order to be eligible you need to be in Slovak republic. For this purpose, the AccessRC app will require you to provide permissions to geolocation; without it, it is not possible to create an account and apply for the program.  The access of the app to phone camera is required for selfie which is mandatory step for identity verification of every applicant. Lastly, notifications, together with SMSs, are another way for us to communicate with you.

Please note that, after you apply for the program, it will take at least two weeks for your application to be reviewed. Registering multiple times will result in duplications and delay in processing your application. In the event of a delay or technical problems, you will be contacted via your phone number or e-mail address you indicated, and for this reason make sure you have provided a contact detail that will enable us to reach you if needed.

After you have applied for the cash assistance and the review process shows that you meet the eligibility criteria, an automated notification message and/or SMS will be sent to you as confirmation that you are eligible for the cash assistance. If you do not meet the program eligibility criteria and requirements, you will receive the message showing that your application for assistance has been rejected.

Please note that failure to pass the system checks, not submitting the requested documents on time, or Slovak Red Cross reaching the program’s target may also result in a negative outcome of your evaluation.

All eligible beneficiaries will be asked via the app to select a payment method. Only after that can they then receive the payment. Please note that from the moment of selection payment method it can take up to 3 weeks to receive the payment. All eligible beneficiaries will receive payments on the same date of each month. We encourage everyone to transfer the money from Money Gram to your bank account within 7 days (not relevant for wire IBAN transfers payment method).

The Slovak Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies collects and processes your personal data as part of this cash assistance program. We are collecting this information to verify your identification and eligibility for Red Cross cash assistance. You must also give consent to the collection of personal data to be able to apply for cash assistance.

For those who are eligible to receive the support, there are three methods to receive cash assistance: standard bank transfer to your bank account, Mobile banking app digital transfer through MoneyGram and Cash pickup through MoneyGram at one of 44 Tesco stores. Once your application is approved, you can choose how you want to receive your assistance. We advise everyone to select standard bank transfer using your bank account number in IBAN format as the most convenient option. If you need support, get in touch with us at +421 910 910 116

The details of the payment methods:

1. Standard bank transfer to your bank account using IBAN – recommended for everyone.
If your application is approved, you will receive the cash assistance in your bank account. To use this method, you need to provide your full name in Latin characters matching the name on your bank account and your bank account number (IBAN number). Make sure to enter these details correctly as the transfer will fail if the name provided does not exactly match the name that is registered on your bank account.

2. Mobile banking app digital transfer through MoneyGram:
If your application is approved, you will receive a message from the Red Cross explaining the steps to receive your assistance via MoneyGram to transfer the money into your bank account. Please note you can only use this option if you have active mobile banking accounts in PrivatBank, MonoBank, Oschadbank or A-Bank. You can pick up your money via MoneyGram on your mobile banking app using the verification code sent to you in the automated notification message. Please do not share this code with anyone.
. Click here to learn how to transfer your payment from MoneyGram into your PrivatBank, MonoBank, Oschadbank or A-Bank account: https://ukrainefinancialassistance.ifrc.org/assets/docs/DigitalPickupManualIFRC.pdf

Please transfer the money from Money Gram to your bank account within 7 days after receiving the payment from us, or it will be reverted.

3. Cash pickup through MoneyGram at one of 44 Tesco stores
If your application is approved, you will receive a message from the Red Cross explaining the steps to you to receive your cash via MoneyGram offices (PLEASE NOTE, than this is possible only in 44 Tesco store locations across Slovakia, see the addresses below). You will be required to approach a MoneyGram office physically to pick-up your money. You can pick up your money using the verification code sent to you in the automated notification message. You need to bring your government issued document with photo or ID to collect the money physically at a MoneyGram office. If you plan on using the old version of internal passport (book passport) to collect money, you should also bring any other ID document with you. To find the nearest MoneyGram office available in your location, click on the link below: https://tesco.sk/img/tescoce_sk/upload/moneygram/stores-SK.pdf

Please pick up the money from Tesco through MoneyGram within 7 days after receiving the payment from us, or it will be reverted.