Can you take time credit and simultaneously receive benefit? Discover what you’re entitled to.
Keen to work less and benefit from an improved work-life balance? No problem! What’s more, you’ll even receive benefit when taking time credit. The amounts are fixed and depend on your personal circumstances. We’ve summarised everything for your convenience, providing you with a handy overview of what you can expect.

Time credit with benefit: here’s how it works.
Time credit can be taken in a variety of ways: full-time, half-time or 1/5. You can apply for this once you’ve been working for the same employer for 24 months. Please bear in mind that time credit is not an absolute right in companies with 10 employees or fewer. Your employer must give their approval. In companies with more than 10 employees, time credit is an absolute right, provided you satisfy the conditions. Once you begin taking time credit, you no longer receive a salary for the periods that you don’t work. You instead receive a replacement income from the National Employment Office.
Time credit benefit: the amounts.
The benefit amounts to which you’re entitled upon taking time credit are listed below. This depends on your age, length of service and whether you work full-time or part-time.
Younger than 51 years |
|
Full-time |
|
less than 2 years of service | No benefit payment, unless the application is made after using up all of your entitlement to parental leave |
2 to 5 years of service | 462.32 euros gross - 415.49 euros net |
More than 5 years of service | 616.43 euros gross - 553.99 euros net |
Half-time | |
less than 2 years of service | No benefit payment, unless the application is made after using up all of your entitlement to parental leave |
2 to 5 years of service - single-parent household | 231.50 euros gross - 161.81 euros net |
2 to 5 years of service - non-single-parent household | 231.50 euros gross - 191.51 euros net |
More than 5 years of service - single-parent household | 308.21 euros gross - 215.75 euros |
More than 5 years of service - non-single-parent household | 308.21 euros gross - 255.36 euros net |
1/5 time credit | |
Single-parent household |
196.44 euros gross - 127.69 euros net (162.76 euros net in the event that you have at least 1 dependent child living at home) |
Non-single-parent household | 152.22 euros gross - 98.95 euros net |
Older than 51 years |
|
Full-time | |
less than 2 years of service | No benefit payment, unless the application is made after using up all of your entitlement to parental leave |
2 to 5 years of service | 462.32 euros gross - 415.49 euros net |
More than 5 years of service | 616.43 euros gross - 553.99 euros net |
Half-time | |
Single-parent household | 460.43 euros gross - 299.28 euros net |
Non-single-parent household | 460.43 euros gross - 299.28 euros net |
1/5 time credit |
|
Single-parent household | 258.09 euros gross - 167.76 euros net |
Non-single-parent household | 213.87 euros gross - 139.02 euros net |

Time credit without benefit? This is another option.
Has your employer refused your time credit application or have you already used it up? Then there’s another option for reducing your working hours and freeing up more time for you and your child: time credit without motive. This is effectively unpaid leave and can be taken with your employer’s consent. In this case, your employment contract is temporarily suspended until your return to work. In contrast to time credit with motive, you won’t receive a replacement income from the National Employment Office.
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