The Growth Package: all about the new child benefit
Growth Package?
The Growth Package is an amount that you, as a parent, receive each month to care for and bring up your child(ren). It is the new name for the child benefit structure in Flanders. As of 1 January 2019, each region in Belgium has its own child benefit system, with its own amounts and rules.
What does the Growth Package consist of?
- You receive a one-off start amount at the birth of your child.
- You receive a monthly amount per child
- You may be entitled to supplements depending on your situation
Pregnant?
Congratulations! File the application for your starting amount (birth allowance) right now! You can receive your starting amount up to two months before the assumed date of birth.
From now on, you decide for yourself which child benefit fund will pay your Growth Package.
The Growth package is paid every month on the 8th calendar day at the latest. Take a look here if you want to know the exact payment date of your Growth Package.
Calculate the Growth Package
The calculation of the Growth Package depends on the date of birth of your child and the regional system to which your child belongs (based on your child's place of residence). This means that you will not receive the same amount as child benefit everywhere in Belgium.
Does your child live abroad? Then the location of your employer will determine which region your child falls within. If your children live in different regions, you will receive child benefit from different regional systems.
Children born before 2019
Do you have children born before 1 January 2019 and do they live in Flanders? In that case, the old child benefit amounts will continue to apply to them, topped up with a number of new supplements for increased child benefit.
Children born as from 2019
Do you have children born on or after 1 January 2019 and do they live in Flanders? In that case, you will receive the new Growth Package amounts for them. Children who have never received child benefit in Belgium before, will also receive the new Growth Package amounts.
Do you have children born before 1 January 2019 as well as children born after that date? Then your Growth Package is made up of a combination of the old and the new amounts.
Applying for the Growth Package
Who should apply for the Growth Package?
Whereas in the past your child benefit application was made through your employer, now you have to apply for your Growth Package yourself. The person who effectively raises the child (usually the mother) must make the application. Have you applied for the starting amount yet? Then your Growth Package will start up automatically. However, have you moved to Flanders from abroad or from another Belgian region? Don't forget to apply for Flemish child benefit at Parentia.
Pregnant right now?
Then apply as soon as possible for the starting amount or maternity fee by submitting an application on-line or via a paper form. If you follow the steps in our practical tool, this will be done in no time! After that, your child benefit will be paid automatically.
Supplements on top of the Growth Package
Since the introduction of the Growth Package, each child receives the same basic amount of 173,20€ per month per child, possibly topped up with supplements. What are those supplements exactly? What are the required conditions and who is entitled? And what about procedures and amounts? You will find a brief overview hereunder:
- Corona supplement: one-off supplement in 12/2020 for low-income families, in addition to the Covid-19 supplement already finalized.
- Social supplement: monthly supplement for low-income families.
- Childcare supplement: financial support for those who send their toddler to a child care centre without an income rate.
- Early childhood supplement: bonus for those who send their three or four-year-old toddler to a Dutch-speaking school.
- Schooling supplement: annual study grant for children from the age of three attending Dutch-speaking early childhood education, primary or secondary education, whose parents' income meets the income conditions.
- Schooling allowance: annual schooling premium to cover school costs.
- Care supplement: financial assistance for children with a disability or condition that requires extra support. Also called care premium.
- Orphans supplement: monthly support for children who lose one or both parents.
Choosing a child benefit fund or pay-out provider
You can choose who will pay your starting amount and Growth Package in Flanders. If you choose Parentia, you will rest assured. We will help you with your family administration, so you won't overlook anything. This way, we will make sure your child doesn't lack for anything!
Pregnant? Then quickly apply for your starting amount through our practical tool.
Would you like to join the Parentia family, but is your child benefit paid by another pay-out provider? Good news:today you and your family can switch to the Parentia child benefit fund. However, you must have been a customer for at least 1 year with your current Growth Package pay-out provider. More information can be found on the official website of the Flemish government.
Join us now!
Family situation
Your family situation and your child's situation can influence the amount of the Growth Package and the person receiving it.
Family
Has your family situation changed as a result of one of the following situations? Then contact Parentia for more information.
- Move
- Family size
- Cohabitation en marriage
- Separation en divorce
- Single or single parent family
- Abroad: what to do when you come to work in Belgium or when you work abroad
Child
Up until the age of 18, your child is entitled to the basic amount of the Growth Package, without any conditions and in certain special situations possibly also to certain supplements. Once your child has reached the age of majority, this right is subject to a number of conditions. Does one of these special situations apply to your child? Or maybe you want to know the conditions children between 18 and 25, students, or youngsters in search of a job are subject to? Then take a look at our specific info pages.
- Adoption
- Age allowance
- Disability or disorder
- Placement in an institution
- Foster care
- Abducted or missing children
- Study and education
- Working as a young person
- Job seeker after studies
- Young person having his own address
Questions?
Do you have any practical questions about child benefit or the new Growth Package? Take a look at our frequently asked questions page. Here you will find answers to questions such as 'When will I receive my child benefit?', 'How do I change my account number?', ...
Are you looking for a specific document or form? Then go to the 'Forms' page.
