Survey: Only a fraction of eligible households apply for housing benefit

Despite close to a quarter of Czech households being eligible to apply for the state housing benefit (příspěvek na bydlení), only 4 percent actually do, according to the results of a survey conducted by PAQ Research as part of a joint project with Czech Radio. The survey, conducted at the turn of October and November of this year, indicated that 24 percent of households in Czechia spend more than around a third of their net income on rent and associated costs.

According to sociologist Daniel Prokop, around 45 percent of those who would be eligible think that they are not. While among pensioners the reason is often a fear of too much bureaucracy, people in working age are often ashamed to ask for a benefit, Czech Radio writes.