Happiness begins with your Growth Package, the new Child Benefit in Flanders
All children in Flanders are entitled to the Growth Package, the new name for Child Benefit.
Want to become a KidsLife customer? That way you can be certain that your Child Benefit or Child Allowance is paid on time, every time, as part of the new Growth Package. And we will also help you to obtain all the other benefits that your child is entitled to.
Maternity allowance now called the Starting Amount in Flanders
The birth of your child entails numerous costs. The Growth Package provides a one-off premium for every birth: the Starting Amount, previously known as the Maternity Allowance or Birth Premium. Every child born in Flanders is entitled to this amount. You can request it from KidsLife at the onset of pregnancy.
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Starting Amount for every birth or adoption |
1144,44 euros * |
* children born before 01/09/2020 receive 1122 Euro Starting amount
Growth Package Basic Amounts
The basic amount or family allowance is paid as part of the Growth Package on a monthly basis, just like the former Child Allowance. You invariably receive this amount around the 8th of every month. If the 8th falls on a weekend, it will be paid on the last working day prior to that weekend.
The basic Growth Package amount is the same for every child from 01/01/2019 onwards. If you received Child Benefit prior to 2019, then in most cases you will continue to receive the same amount.
Keen to learn the precise amount that you will receive? View your My KidsLife Online File or contact your KidsLife advisor
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Basic monthly amount (for each child born from 01/01/2019 onwards*) |
166.46 euros ** |
* children born prior to 2019 will, in most circumstances, continue to receive the same amount as before.
** new amounts from September 2020 (payment in early October)
Growth Package Supplementary Child Benefit
The Growth Package aims to give more support to those families who require a financial boost than the former Child Benefit legislation provided for. Providing you satisfy certain criteria, you may be entitled to supplementary child benefit. The Growth Package provides a Social Allowance based on your family income and circumstances, just like the former Child Benefit. It additionally provides various care allowances that support families in specific circumstances.
Growth Package Social Allowance
The social allowance was created to give children from lower-income families every opportunity to develop. The amount that you receive depends on your income and the size of your family. It varies between 52.02 euros and 83.23 euros per child, per month.
Growth Package: Social Allowance
Growth Package Care Allowances
Orphans, half-orphans, foster children and children with specific support needs also receive a supplementary allowance:
In the event that both parents have died, orphaned children each receive a supplementary allowance of 166.46 euros in addition to the basic amount. The care allowance for half-orphans is 83.23 euros.
The foster care allowance is a supplementary monthly allowance that children who are placed in a foster family receive in addition to the basic amount. It amounts to 64.29 euros per child.
The care allowance is intended to help children with specific support needs cope with the consequences of those support needs.
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Orphan supplement (both parents deceased) |
166.46 euros (extra per month) |
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Orphan supplement (one parent deceased) |
83.23 euros (extra per month) |
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Foster care allowance |
64.29 euros (extra per month) |
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Care allowance for children with a disability |
Based on the medical decision taken by the competent authority. |
Do you have any questions? You don't have children yet, but you are expecting a happy event? Apply for child benefit at KidsLife!
Participation Allowances
The various Participation Allowances are a supplement to the monthly Child Benefit amount. You are entitled to these if your child attends a Dutch-language school or childcare facility.
If you live in Flanders, you needn’t apply for these allowances directly; KidsLife automatically ensures that every family receives the amount to which they are entitled. The Participation Allowances are:
Childcare Allowance
The Childcare Allowance provides an additional premium for children who attend Dutch-language childcare in Flanders or Brussels-capital. It’s important that you are exempt from payment based on your income.
If you live in Flanders, KidsLife will automatically investigate whether you are entitled to the Childcare Allowance. If you don’t live in Flanders, then you can request it from KidsLife.
KidsLife invariably pays the Childcare Allowance around the 20th of the month.
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Childcare Allowance |
3.29 euros per day of childcare |
Read more about the Childcare Allowance
Allocation préscolaire
Children aged 3 and/or 4 years may be entitled to the Toddler Allowance.
3-year-old children are entitled to this, providing they are timely enrolled in Dutch-language education.
In the case of 4-year-old children, sufficient attendance is also required in addition to timely enrolment in Dutch-language education.
The Toddler Allowance is a one-off premium that is paid in the month following your child’s 3rd and 4th birthday.
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Toddler Allowance |
135,25 euros (one-off premium following the toddler’s birthday) |
Read more about the Toddler Allowance
Allocation Scolaire
School-aged children who grow up in a lower-income family are entitled to a school allowance. The amount depends on family size and income, and is awarded per school year.
Any questions? You haven't received the Growth Package yet? Or would you like to become a KidsLife customer?