My child goes to a childcare centre
Does your child go to a childcare centre? If so, you may be entitled to the childcare benefit. This is a government contribution towards the costs of childcare.
Conditions for the childcare benefit
These are the conditions you and your possible benefit partner must meet to qualify for the childcare benefit:
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You have a paid job or you take part in a reintegration programme, a civic integration course or a training programme.
By paid job we mean that you earn money from your work on which you pay taxes. You are also entitled to the childcare benefit if you work part time. Are you a PhD-candidate? Then you should either be employed by your university or declare any received scholarships in your income tax return.
You are not eligible for the childcare benefit if your work as a volunteer.
- The childcare centre or childminding agency is registered (only available in Dutch). In case of childminding services, the childminder must be registered as well.
- Both you and your child live in the same house and are registered with the municipality at this address.
- You signed a contract with the childcare centre or childminding agency.
- You pay the childcare costs.
- Do you have the nationality of an EU country, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland? Then you do not need a valid residence permit, but you must have a right of residency. We will receive this information from your municipality. Please check the IND-website for more information.
- Are you from another country? If so, you need a valid residence permit that entitles you to benefits. Read more on the IND-website.
A foreign childcare centre must be registered as well. Check the Register of foreign childcare (Register buitenlandse kinderopvang - only available in Dutch) to see if your childcare centre is registered.
Does your partner live outside and EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland? Since 4 March 2022 you may be entitled to the childcare benefit if both you and your partner meet the conditions stated above.
How many care hours does the benefit cover?
If you meet the conditions, your are entitled to the childcare benefit for a maximum of 230 hours per month per child. This applies to everyone who is entitled to the childcare benefit. It doesn't matter how many hours you work and whether you work or study, for example.
In 2022 (and prior) the number of hours for which you could receive the childcare benefit, depended on the number of hours worked by the parent with the fewest working hours. Please refer to our calculation tool (only available in Dutch) if you wish to know how many hours of childcare benefit you were entitled to in 2022.
Applying for benefits yourself
You can apply for the childcare benefit yourself. Information about how to do this can be found under I want to apply for a benefit.
Submit changes on time
Is there any change in the details used to calculate your benefit, such as your income or the number of childcare hours? In that case, you must notify us of this change. Information on how to do this can be found under I want to submit a change.
