Child Benefit and Growth Package for those working or living abroad: all scenarios.

I live in Belgium but work abroad.

You received Child Benefit or the Growth Package in Belgium, but are now commencing work abroad.

Commencing work abroad but receive your Child Benefit in Belgium? Then please notify us immediately!

If you commence working abroad, you may be entitled to Child Benefit abroad. In this case, your entitlement to Child Benefit from Belgium will have to be reassessed. It’s possible that Belgium will only be able to pay the difference between the Belgian and foreign amounts in the form of a supplement.

Example: Wim and Ella live with their 2 children in Antwerp and receive Child Benefit from Belgium. Ella is a housewife. Wim is due to start a new job in the Netherlands on 1 July 2020. He applies for Child Benefit in the Netherlands. Based on Wim’s employment, he’ll be entitled to Dutch Child Benefit in the Netherlands from 1 July 2020. From 1 July 2020, Belgium will only be able to pay the difference between the Belgian and Dutch amounts in the event that the Dutch amounts are lower than the Belgian ones.

KidsLife is in direct contact with the foreign Child Benefit Funds and requests the amounts paid abroad via the E411 document on a six-monthly or annual basis (depending on the country). You’ll therefore no longer receive a payment from KidsLife on a monthly basis, but rather on a six-monthly or annual basis, depending on when we receive the completed E411 document back from the foreign Child Benefit Fund.

You work abroad and are now coming to live in Belgium. You’re submitting a Child Benefit/Growth Package application in Belgium for the first time.

Welcome to Belgium! You probably have a mountain of tasks on your to-do list. KidsLife will help you to obtain all the benefits to which your child is entitled.

Simply submit an application using our handy online tool or complete the application forms. Be sure to have the national register numbers of you and your family members to hand when submitting your application. Don’t have these (yet)? Then please supply us with the names and dates of birth of your family members.

You may have received or still be receiving Child Benefit abroad. Regardless your circumstances, please notify us of the name and address of the competent foreign Child Benefit Fund in question.

• If the foreign Child Benefit Fund has ceased paying your Child Benefit, then we’ll request confirmation to this effect from the Child Benefit Fund in question. Already have such a confirmation in your possession? Then please add it to your application to save time!
• If the foreign Child Benefit Fund is still paying your Child Benefit because you still work abroad, then an investigation will first be initiated to determine which country has primary responsibility for paying your Child Benefit.

Example 1: Wim and Ella are coming to live in Antwerp with their 2 children from 1 July 2020. Wim and Ella both work in the Netherlands and receive Child Benefit from the Netherlands. Wim also applies for Child Benefit in Belgium. Since the Netherlands has primary responsibility for paying the Child Benefit, Belgium will only be able to pay the difference between the Belgian and Dutch amounts from 1 July 2020, in the event that the Dutch amounts are lower than the Belgian ones.

Example 2: Wim and Ella are moving with their 2 children from Paris to Liège on 1 July 2020. Wim starts working in Belgium on that same date, whilst Ella continues to work in France. Since they have a place of residence and employment in Belgium from 1 July 2020, Belgium has primary responsibility for paying their Child Benefit. France will investigate whether they’re able to make a supplementary payment for the difference between the Belgian and French amounts, in the event the Belgian amounts are lower than the French ones.

Please note: If you submit your application to KidsLife Brussels or KidsLife Wallonia, then you must also work in a professional capacity in Belgium in order to receive Child Benefit payments in Belgium.

View all Child Benefit and Growth Package payment amounts here

I work in Belgium but live abroad.

If you live abroad but work in Belgium, then your Child Benefit or Growth Package can be paid from Belgium.

Simply submit an application using our handy online tool or complete the application forms. Be sure to have the national register numbers of you and your family members to hand when submitting your application. Don’t have these (yet)? Then please supply us with the names and dates of birth of your family members.

You may have received or still be receiving Child Benefit abroad. Regardless your circumstances, please notify us of the name and address of the competent foreign Child Benefit Fund in question.

• If the foreign Child Benefit Fund has ceased paying your Child Benefit, then we’ll request confirmation to this effect from the Child Benefit Fund in question. Already have such a confirmation in your possession? Then please add it to your application to save time!
• If the foreign Child Benefit Fund is still paying your Child Benefit, then an investigation will first be initiated to determine which country has primary responsibility for paying your Child Benefit. The other country can then pay the difference between their own amounts and those from abroad in the form of a supplement. If you continue to receive payments abroad (because your partner still works there for example), then KidsLife will request the amounts paid via an E411 document on a six-monthly or annual basis (depending on the country). In the event that another country is able to make supplementary payments, KidsLife will issue certificates specifying the amounts paid in Belgium.

Example 1: Naïma starts working in Belgium on 1 July 2020. She lives with her husband Thomas and their son in the Netherlands. Thomas works in the Netherlands. Naïma receives Child Benefit from the Netherlands. She also applies for Child Benefit in Belgium. Since the Netherlands has primary responsibility for paying the Child Benefit, Belgium will only be able to pay the difference between the Belgian and Dutch amounts in the event that the Dutch amounts are lower than the Belgian ones.

Please note: If you live abroad, we’ll send 2 documents upon receipt of your application. The E401 document must be completed by the local authorities in the municipality where you live and serves as confirmation of your family composition. The P12 document assesses your professional activity abroad. You must complete this document yourself. You’ll subsequently be required to complete both of these documents on an annual basis.

View all Child Benefit and Growth Package payment amounts here

My children live abroad

Are you raising your child in a country within the EEA or in Switzerland?

KidsLife will investigate your entitlement to Child Benefit upon receipt of your application. Regardless of your circumstances, you must work in a professional capacity in Belgium, such as in paid employment, or be in receipt of unemployment benefits.

The EEA countries comprise: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Czech Republic and Sweden.

Is your child (temporarily) residing in a country outside the EEA? 

Then you may be entitled to Belgian Child Benefit if one of the following conditions is met:

1. Your child is studying abroad but remains domiciled in Belgium.

Please note: You’re only entitled to Child Benefit based on foreign studies if a secondary education diploma has already been obtained in Belgium.

• secondary studies abroad: entitles you to Child Benefit for a period of 1 year.
• higher education abroad: entitles you to Child Benefit for the study period.

Example: After completing his secondary education in Belgium, Adam plans to pursue higher education studies in Canada. Adam retains his domicile address in Belgium. He’s entitled to Child Benefit for the entire duration of his Canadian studies.

2. Your child is a school leaver but remains domiciled in Belgium.

A 12-month school-leaver period commences upon completion of studies in Belgium. You may still be entitled to Child Benefit during this period under certain conditions. If your child works as a volunteer abroad during this 12-month period or is pursuing a foreign internship that will help in their search for work, then you’re still entitled to Belgian Child Benefit providing you can submit a certificate from the National Employment Office (RVA), Flemish Employment Agency (VDAB) or a volunteer organisation.

3. Your child is temporarily residing abroad but remains domiciled in Belgium.

Providing your child doesn’t reside abroad for more than 2 months, you’ll retain your Child Benefit entitlement.

You’re also entitled to Belgian Child Benefit if your child only resides abroad for the Easter, Summer or Christmas holidays.

Find out everything you need to know about studying abroad

Is your child abroad for medical reasons?

Your child might be residing abroad for medical reasons, such as undergoing a specific treatment, for example. Is this stay for a maximum of three years? And for medical reasons on the part of your child, you (as a parent) or your partner? Then you’ll retain your Growth Package or Child Benefit entitlement.

Please note: you must be able to demonstrate (by means of a medical certificate) that returning to Belgium is not an option.

Your child resides abroad with a seconded parent.

Are you a parent and residing abroad on behalf of your Belgian employer? Then you remain subject to Belgian Social Security and will retain your Child Benefit entitlement for the child travelling with you for a maximum of 1 year. If you have another child during that 1-year period, this child will also be entitled to Child Benefit.

Your child is abducted and taken abroad

You’ll retain your Child Benefit entitlement until the child has reached the age of majority.

Your child is being raised in a country with which Belgium has concluded a treaty.

Belgium has concluded a special treaty with a number of countries, such as Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey.

In this case, you’ll receive your Growth Package from Belgium. However, the payment amounts are defined in the treaty and differ from the standard amounts. This entitlement is limited to a maximum of 4 children.