Child benefits for Dutch people in Belgium
What is the Belgian Child Benefit?
At the beginning of our explanation, we immediately bump into the biggest difference with child benefit in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, there is 1 national law that applies throughout the country. In Belgium, this is not the case. Since 2019, the 3 regions in Belgium have separate regulatory powers in their regions. That means different amounts and conditions apply in Flanders than in Wallonia or the Brussels Capital Region.
To top it all off, in Flanders we do not talk about child benefits but about The Growth Package.
The region where you live determines which conditions you have to meet. Do you live in the Netherlands but work in Belgium? Then we look at the region where you work or where your employer is registered.
Sounds complicated? No worries: KidsLife is a child benefit fund that operates in all three regions! Apply to KidsLife today and we'll make sure your Child Benefit gets paid by the right region.
Expecting a baby? In Belgium, you are entitled to a one-off Birth Premium: called the Maternity Allowance or Starting Amount. This Birth Premium does not exist in the Netherlands.
What is the difference between Belgian and Dutch Child Benefit?
In the Netherlands, child benefit is regulated nationally. There is 1 legislation for the whole country. In Belgium, there are different regulations for each region, each of which has its own amounts and conditions.
In the Netherlands, it is the Sociale Verzekeringsbank of the region where you live that pays your child benefits. In Belgium, you can choose one of the child benefits funds yourself. KidsLife operates in every region in Belgium.
In the Netherlands, your child benefit is paid quarterly. In Belgium it is monthly. Of course, you cannot receive full child benefit from 2 countries. 1 of the two countries will have priority to pay your child benefit. Usually this is the children's country of residence. The other country can then pay additionally: the difference between the amounts from both countries.
Check out your situation here
| Nederland | België | |
| Law | 1 national legislation | Legislation per region (Flanders / Brussels / Wallonia) with separate amounts and conditions |
| Organisation | Payment by the SVB | Payment by a child benefit fund or payment actor |
| Right | Your place of residence determines which SVB is competent | You choose your child benefit fund yourself |
| Payment | Payment quarterly | Payment per month |
| Term | Right to child benefit up to the age of 18 | Right to child benefit up to the age of 18 and, under certain conditions, up to a maximum of 25 years |
| Composition | Consists of child benefit, childcare allowance and child budget | Consists of a basic amount supplemented with any surcharges |
| Maternity allowance | No right to maternity allowance | Right to a birth premium in the form of maternity allowance (Brussels and Wallonia) or starting amount (Flanders) |
When do I receive the Belgian Child Benefit?
If your children live in Belgium, you may be entitled to Belgian child benefit or the Growth Package.
Does your family live in the Netherlands? Then there can only be an entitlement to Belgian child benefits if you have professional activities in Belgium. Is your job in Belgium? Then we can investigate the right to child benefit in Belgium.
Before we start the investigation, you must of course submit an application. This can easily be done online.
Apply here for your Belgian Child Benefit
Is your application complete? We will then send you a P12 form in which we ask about your socio-professional situation. These are questions about your family situation and any professional activities in the Netherlands. We will also contact the Dutch SVB directly to ask about your family composition and to determine which country will pay your child benefit on a priority basis. And which country will therefore pay the additional child benefit.
*Is Belgium the priority country? Then we pay the child benefit monthly. Check the payment dates for your region!
*Can Belgium only pay the additional child benefit? Then you will receive a statement once a year for the entire past year.
How much Belgian child benefit do I receive?
In the Netherlands, your child benefit is paid quarterly. In Belgium, it is monthly.
You can find the amounts per region here.
In Belgium, the amounts vary per region. With our handy simulation tool, you can calculate for yourself how much you are entitled to.
Of course, you cannot receive full child benefit from 2 countries at once. 1 of the two countries will have priority to pay your child benefits. This is usually the children's country of residence. The other country can then pay additionally: the difference between the amounts from both countries.
Eg: Naïma starts working in Belgium from January. She lives with her husband Thomas and their little son in the Netherlands. Thomas works in the Netherlands. Naïma receives Child Benefit from the Netherlands. She also applies to receive Child Benefit in Belgium. As the Netherlands have priority jurisdiction to pay Child Benefit, Belgium will only be able to pay the difference between the Belgian and Dutch amounts. This is only possible if the Dutch amounts are lower than the Belgian amounts.
If Belgium can pay additionally - the difference between the Belgian and Dutch amounts - then of course we first need to know how much the Netherlands have paid. We do this by requesting the amounts paid out annually from the Dutch SVB. You don't have to do anything yourself. As soon as we receive an answer from the SVB, we will calculate the difference between the Belgian and Dutch amounts. Only if the Belgian amounts are higher than the Dutch amounts, an additional payment may be made. You will receive this once a year.
Specific situations for Dutch citizens in Belgium
Are you in 1 of the following situations?
- I work in Belgium, but I live in the Netherlands
- I live in Belgium, but I work in the Netherlands
- I am moving to Belgium
- I am a seconded/Expat employee
Check out your specific situation
See our frequently asked questions
Child Benefit in Belgium is composed of different premiums and allowances that you receive from the KidsLife Child Benefit Fund while raising your family. Aren't you receiving Child Benefit in Belgium yet? Our KidsLife adviser, Pierre, will help you get started in this video! Watch it here.
Do you live or work in Belgium? Then you may be entitled to Child Benefit. The KidsLife Child Benefit Fund examines your entitlement to Child Benefit and then ensures you receive it on time every month. Our KidsLife adviser, Pierre, explains in this video how you can obtain Child Benefit in Belgium.
You might still be entitled to Belgian Child Benefit, even if your family doesn’t live in Belgium. The KidsLife Child Benefit Fund will examine your entitlement following your application. Our KidsLife adviser, Pierre, is happy to explain how the rules for Belgian Child Benefit work in this video. Watch it here!
Yes. Your entitlement to the School Bonus or School Premium is not dependent on your child’s studies. All children who are entitled to Belgian Child Benefit or the Growth Package will receive the School Bonus at the beginning of August, together with their Child Benefit for the month of July.
