Childcare Allowance

The Childcare Allowance is a Participation Allowance for children who attend a Dutch-speaking, non-income-related childcare facility that is approved by the Child and Family Agency.

• The childcare facility supplies your child’s attendance record to your Child Benefit Fund.
• You will receive your Childcare Allowance on the 20th of the month following the month of childcare.
• Providing you satisfy the conditions, you are entitled to a Childcare Allowance of 3,50 euros per child, per day of childcare.

Who is entitled to the childcare allowance?

Some conditions apply for your child in order for you to receive the childcare allowance.  

• Your child attends a Dutch-language childcare facility in Flanders or Brussels-capital.
• The childcare fee is not calculated based on your income. 
• Your child has not yet started attending pre-school. If he or she is already half attending pre-school and is still half in childcare, you will not receive an allowance. 

How do you obtain the childcare allowance? 

Do you live in Flanders? Then you don't have to do a thing. Your childcare facility will provide a record of your child's attendance to your child benefit payment provider (possibly via the Child and Family Agency). Your childcare allowance will be automatically paid out on the 20th of the month following the month of childcare.  

Please note: if you live in Brussels or Wallonia, this is not an automatic process and you must submit an application.