Premium for preschoolers in Flanders

Toddler Allowance: Growth Package premium for toddlers

The toddler allowance is part of the Participation Allowances and is intended for all 3-year-old children who have enrolled in Dutch-language education in time, and children aged 4 years old who remain enrolled and attend school frequently enough. 

What is the Toddler Allowance?

  • One-off premium amounting to 140,72 euros.
  • For 3- and 4-year-old toddlers who attend a Dutch-speaking school
  • Paid the month following their birthday.

How do you obtain the toddler allowance? 

Do you live in Flanders? Then you don't have to do a thing. The toddler allowance is paid automatically as soon as the Ministry of Education and Training sends the enrolment information to the child benefit payment provider.  

Please note: if you live in Brussels or Wallonia - and your child attends a Dutch-language school in Flanders or Brussels-capital - this does not happen automatically and you must actively apply for the toddler allowance.

Apply for the Toddler Allowance

Who receives the toddler allowance? 

Your child must satisfy a number of conditions in order for you to receive the toddler allowance.  

  1. Your child attends a Dutch-speaking kindergarten in Flanders or Brussels Capital.
  2. For 3-year-old children: 
    • Your child turns 3 on or after 1/1/2019. 
    • Your child is enrolled in a Dutch-language school in time, meaning before 3 years and 2 months of age. 
  3. For 4-year-old children: 
    • Your child turns 4 on or after 1/1/2019. 
    • Your child remains enrolled in a Dutch-language school. 
    • Your child attends a minimum number of hours at school. This implies: 150 half school days in the first kindergarten class or 185 half school days in the second kindergarten class during the school year.  

How much is the toddler allowance? 

All 3- and 4-year-old toddlers who satisfy the conditions receive a toddler allowance of EUR 140,72 per year.  

Child Benefit is always paid on the 8th of each month. If the 8th falls on a weekend, then we will pay it on the last working day prior to that weekend. Please check our payment calendar for the various payment dates. 
 

The maximum age for Child Benefit and Growth Package entitlement is 25 years. From the age of 18 upwards, you must satisfy certain criteria in order to retain your Child Benefit and Growth Package entitlement. No regular or automatic substitute applies once your entitlement to Child Benefit has ceased. If your child was entitled to a Care Allowance due to a specific support requirement, then they may be entitled to a Disability Allowance once their Child Benefit entitlement has ceased.  Please note that this is not an automatic entitlement. It must be requested and the application subsequently investigated.

There’s no difference between an online and a paper-based application. In both cases, your KidsLife adviser will set to work on processing your application as swiftly as possible. 
Paper-based applications that are sent by post will of course have slower processing times than online applications due to the additional postal time involved. 

An online application is not only quick and hassle-free; it’s also environmentally friendly. And you save on stamps, making it easier on your wallet. 

Check which application you can submit here

 

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.

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