Child benefit - How much is your child allowed to earn?

Many children earn some money with a job. If your child is under 16 and lives at home with you, it does not matter how much your child earns. Your child benefit will not be affected.

If your child is 16 or 17, his or her income may affect your child benefit

If your child is 16 or 17, or if he or she does not live at home with you, your child's earnings may affect your child benefit. Your child will be allowed to earn up to a certain maximum amount. If your child earns more than the maximum amount in a particular quarter, you will not be entitled to child benefit for that quarter. The maximum amount is adjusted every year in October. It is a net amount, so we take account of the money your child actually receives.

Extra income during the holidays

During the summer holidays, children sometimes take a holiday job or work more hours than during the rest of the year. During the summer holidays, your child is allowed to earn € 1,250 net on top of the normal maximum amount.

Holiday work for the same employer

If your child has a job throughout the year and does some extra work for the same employer during the summer holidays, your child must ask the employer for a statement regarding the holiday work. After the summer, the SVB can then see what amounts belong with the normal job or count as holiday work.

Report income over € 800 to the SVB

Your child may earn more in some quarters than others due to overtime, a tax refund or an end-of-year bonus, for instance. As result, your child may unexpectedly earn more than the maximum amount and you may have to repay the child benefit you received. To prevent this from happening, let us know as soon as possible if you think your child is going to earn more than € 800 net in a particular quarter, even though your child is allowed to earn up to a maximum amount which is considerably higher.

If your child earns less than € 800 net in a quarter, you do not have to report this to us.