Child benefit
When does the child benefit stop?
Child benefit always stops when your child turns 18. In some cases, it may stop sooner.
When your child turns 18
When your child benefit stops depends on when your child turns 18. If your child has not yet reached the age of 18 on the first day of a quarter, you will get child benefit for that quarter.
Examples:
- Your child turns 18 on 12 April, which is in the second quarter. Your child was not yet 18 on the first day of the 2nd quarter. You will therefore still get child benefit for the second quarter.
- Your child turns 18 on 1 April. That means that your child is 18 on the first day of the second quarter. You will therefore no longer get child benefit as from the second quarter.
If your child is still under 18
Child benefit may stop before your child turns 18 if:
- your child has income from work above a certain level
- your child dies
- your child leaves home and you contribute less than € 408 per quarter towards the support of your child
- you are going to live or work outside the Netherlands
- your child is going to live outside the Netherlands
- your child of 16 or 17
-does not attend fulltime education with the aim of receiving a basic qualification and is not exempt from obtaining a basic qualification
-has a basic qualification and is now unemployed, and does not cooperate with plans offered by the municipality to help young people find work
-is entitled to a student grant
A basic qualification means a diploma at one of the following types of school in the Netherlands: MBO level 2 or higher, HAVO or VWO. Children are exempt from obtaining a basic qualification if they are disabled, for instance, or if they have attended a school for employment-oriented training or special education.
The system of basic qualifications and exemption from basic qualifications is a specifically Dutch system. Also, municipalites in other countries often do not help young people find work. However, a qualification that gives young people a good chance of finding work can be considered equivalent to a basic qualification. And if your child is not able to receive education due to illness or a disability, he or she may be able to get exemption. If your child is unemployed, your child benefit will stop if your child does not cooperate in finding a job.
More information about termination of child benefit before the child's 18th birthday:
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