What is a home visit?

A home visit (called sociální šetření in Czech) is when a social worker from the Labour Office visits the home of the person applying for the care allowance. The goal is to verify:

• whether the person truly needs care from others,

• the actual scope of assistance provided,

• how the household functions and what the daily routine is like,

• whether the information in the application and medical reports matches reality.

When does the visit take place?

Usually within a few weeks after submitting the application. The official contacts you beforehand to set a date. The visit can take from 30 minutes to over an hour, depending on the situation.

How to prepare for the home visit?

1. Be present – and ideally, so should the caregiver

The visit must take place in the applicant’s natural environment. If someone (daughter, grandparent, partner) provides the care, they should be there too.

2. Don’t exaggerate – but don’t downplay either

Tell the truth about the care needed. People often tend to minimize their problems (“I manage on my own”), which can work against them. Don’t be afraid to say that you need help with hygiene, dressing, or cooking.

3. Prepare assistive tools, medications, and documentation

You can show the worker a wheelchair, walker, adjustable bed, list of medications, or medical records. The more they see, the better.

4. Don’t underestimate the process – everything gets written down

The social worker writes down their observations, including the state of the home, the applicant’s appearance and behavior, and whether they were able to stand, speak, or respond on their own.

⚠️ Risk: What if the visit gives a misleading picture?

Sometimes the visit seems superficial – or happens on a rare “good day”. This can result in a wrong decision or a lower dependency level being assigned.

💬 “One of my clients was having a relatively good day when the visit took place. She managed to answer some questions by herself. The worker noted she was independent. We had to fight hard to correct that with an appeal and eventually a lawsuit.”

👩‍⚖️ Lawyer’s recommendation

✅ If you’re worried about fairness, you’re allowed to record the visit – or at least write down your own notes right after.

✅ If multiple people provide care, try to have them all present.

✅ If the benefit is denied or reduced, you can file an objection – and if needed, take it to court. At that stage, I recommend legal help. It becomes a matter of evidence, documentation, statements, and often expert reports.