Financial Benefits and Bonuses

Having a baby can be an expensive business, which is why it's well worth figuring out how to take advantage of the various allowances, bonuses and other benefits you may be entitled to. Benefits you may be entitled are outlined here:

• child benefits in Belgium differ by region. Brussels, Wallonia, and Flanders each have their own systems and terminology ('allocations familiales' / 'kinderbijslag'). Generally, almost every child living in Belgium is entitled to a monthly payment. The amounts differ from region to region, as the local governments provide the money
  

• bonuses from your mutuelle, which, depending on your mutuelle, may include a welcome bonus, breastfeeding bonus, free domestic help
  

• adoption allowance ('prime d'adoption' / 'adoptiepremie) - one-off payment of over €1200 per child adopted, paid by the family allowance agency

Additionally, nearly every expecting parent can receive a one-off maternity allowance. The amounts (all over a thousand euros) are set and provided by the regional government and overseen by a public body:

• VUTG in Flanders (Groeipakket.be)

• AVIQ in Wallonia (AVIQ.be)

• Iriscare in Brussels (Iriscare.brussels)

You can freely choose your child benefit fund, whether you are employed or self-employed. The chosen fund will calculate your amount, communicate with you, and handle the money transfers. You can change funds after one year in Flanders, and two in the other regions.

Learn more about:

• Startbedrag and Groeipakket in Flanders

• Prime de naissance and allocations familiales in Wallonia

• Allocation de naissance (kraamgeld) and allocations familiales (kinderbijslag) in Brussels

You can read more about the birth allowance ('prime de naissance' / 'kraamgeld') a one-off payment of over €1200 per child born (in Brussels, the amount is less for subsequent children), paid by the family allowance agency at: birth allowance