Child Allowance or Child Benefit in Denmark

I received my son’s allowance or child check  today but officially they call it Family Allowance. All families in Denmark with children who fulfills the requirements receives,  a Child Check every quarter and it’s tax-free. Beyond this benefit, it is also possible to get other grants, for example. if you are a single parent, student or Retired parents.

Taxes are very high in Europe  especially in Denmark but health care and Child Supports are well in place unlike the third world countries. That’s a good thing living in Europe that there is a child support for example in Spain once you give birth you will get 2,500 euros and 100 euro per month until they reach 3 years old. In Denmark you are entitled to receive Family Allowance from birth until before  child’s  18th birthday.

Family Allowance

The Family Allowance is for all families with children and adolescents under 18 years. The allowance is paid automatically to the child’smother’s NEMKonto Easy Account. NEM Konto Easy Account  is an ordinary bank account which you designate  to be your Nemkonto Easy Account. This is where all public payments are transferred. If there is any arrangement of who will receive the family benefits check with your municipality. Otherwise, the mother automatically have the amount paid quarterly after childbirth.

What are the requirement to  receive family allowance?

• The person who has custody must be fully taxable in Denmark. It usually requires that you live in Denmark.
• The child must reside in Denmark. The family allowance may be paid even if the child resides briefly in another country for purposes such as holidays or family visits, or if the child is staying temporarily in another country as part of his training. School Absenteeism shall be lawful for mandatory school children  entitled to child benefit.
• The child must not be under the custody of the social service or have married.
• The municipality must not have reached a decision for a non-compliance with parental instruction. A parental notice may for example assume that parents must ensure that the child comes to school every day. The order given for a quarter at a time.

The payment schedule for the Family Benefits:

• 20 January,
• 20 April
• 20 July
• 20 October.

Rates for the year 2010

***New rules from 2011***

The 7-17 year olds divided into two groups where the 7-14 year-old will be paid a Child Allowance and the 15-17 year olds will be paid a Youth Allowance.

Children and adolescents benefit will be reduced during 2011, 2012 and 2013 in increments of 5 per cent.  They also set a ceiling of 35,000 dkk  for the total Child benefits  that’s inlcudes other Supplementary Child Benefits. They also certain rules for both parents and Youth with regards to following the Child educational plan.

Supplementary Child Allowances

Aside from the Family Allowance which is given automatically there are also available Child Allowances and Subsidies which you can avail but you have to apply to your Municipality.

Child Allowance  For Single Parent

Note: as a single parent you need to live alone with your child not living in with a  partner.

Special Child Allowance

Special Child Allowance is given to a Single Parent if there is no support from one of the parent, or if the paternity of the child could not be established or only one of the parent is alive.

Subsidy For Multiple Children

Supplementary family allowance is paid to multiple child-birth for example twins, triplets, etc., until they reach 7 years old. The  Child Allowance shall be paid beyond the first child that means it will be given to the 2nd child and the 3rd  and so forth. It shall be paid without application.

It is a requirement that all children have the same residence. This kind of child support is not applicable to adoptive single parent or Children who were conceived thru artificial method by Single women.

Subsidy For Parent Undergoing Education

Parents studying or undergoing training or internships can get a special allowance. One can not receive more than one grant per parent in training. If both parents are students, and  have two children, they can  get two grants. The amount granted depends on your income. Please check  www.su.dk if you are receiving State’s Education Grant because you will also receive an extra 12 months stipend when you give birth.

Subsidy For Adoptive children from foreign land

The municipality who will give the  allowance but the State Administration (Statsforvaltning) should attest that the child has arrived in Denmark

Child Allowance for Retired Parents

You can receive the Ordinary Child Allowance if you are parents and both receives the state pension or disability pension under the rules from before the 1st of January 2003.

You can get special allowances if you are parents and one of you or  both of you  receive pension or disability pension under the rules from before the 1st January 2003. The special grants shall be reduced if you have sustained income over a certain size.

Alimony

The maintenance obligation shall normally not more than ten years and it will stop if the person receiving the contribution, remarries, or one of the spouses dies. Where the court determines the obligation to contribute, it will focus on the opportunities the parties have when they go their separate ways. The Court does not determine its size. How much one should pay in alimony to the other, the parties must decide for themselves.

If they can agree, it determines the state administration. State Administration decision is discretionary, and is especially taken on the basis of the couple’s gross income. Normally, the contribution of 1 / 5 of the difference between their gross income.

Subsidy in Child Care

Child care in Denmark is not free but you can apply for subsidy which the payment can be reduced or in part depending on the family’s income. For example in Copenhagen Municipality Family combined income of 461,600 (2010 rate) can apply for reduced rate plus additional sibling discount if there are more than 1 child.
PLease check your Municipality for more information. The Family Allowance can be combined with different Supplementary Allowance but you need to apply to your municipality. Child Allowance are tax Free and are adjusted every 1st of January every year. This  Child Benefits is only effective this 2010 because the Parliament made some changes which will be called Child And Youth Benefits 2011 and will take effect next year if you want to learn about it you can check it here.

Source of Information: WWW.borger.dk and www.skat.dk but they are in Danish. You download the Child Benefit in Denmark 2007 from the Department of Family Affairs.