Navigating New Beginnings: Your Guide to Belgium’s "Family Credit" in 2026
A ‘backpack’ for your child!
In 2026, Belgium is launching the first phase of the "Family Credit" system, a major reform designed to unify previously fragmented forms of parental and time-credit leave into a single, cohesive framework. The transition to the new family credit is being rolled out over 2026 and into 2027. Here’s an overview of what to expect…..
Welcoming a new member to the family is an exciting milestone, but navigating leave policies can often feel like a second job. As of January 1, 2026, the Belgian federal government has officially launched the first phase of the "Family Credit" system—a bold reform designed to simplify your life and put the focus back on your child.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 updates and how they impact your family.
1. What is the Family Credit?
Think of the Family Credit as a "backpack" for your child. Historically, parental leave in Belgium was fragmented across different systems depending on whether you were an employee, a civil servant, or self-employed.
The 2026 reform begins to merge these into one unified framework where entitlements are tied to the child rather than the parent’s professional status. This change aims to:
Simplify requests: One legal framework replaces the old, complex maze of rules
Encourage equality: Parents have more freedom to share leave, promoting a more balanced division of childcare
Universal access: It aims to level the playing field between employees and the self-employed
2. The 2026 Bonus: An Extra Week of Birth Leave
The headline change for 2026 is the introduction of a fully funded extra week of leave upon the birth of a child.
Because the system is now more flexible, you have choices on how to use this extra time:
Mothers can choose to extend their postnatal maternity leave
Fathers or Co-parents can use it as an extension of their existing 20-day birth leave
3. More Inclusivity: Foster Parents and Beyond
The Family Credit system isn't just for biological parents. The reform recognizes that "family" comes in many forms:
Long-term Foster Parents: As of mid-2025 and continuing into the 2026 framework, long-term foster parents (caring for a child for at least 6 months) are now eligible for the same 4-month parental leave rights as biological parents
Widening the Circle: The framework is built to eventually allow other caregivers, such as grandparents, to play a larger role in the "backpack" system, though full rollout for all caregiver types is happening in stages
4. A Quick Refresher: Your 2026 Entitlements
While the Family Credit unifies the system, the core amounts of time you can take remain robust:
Birth Leave (Dads/Co-parents): 20 days (plus the new 2026 extra week option) to be taken within 4 months of birth
Maternity Leave: Generally 15 weeks (19 for multiples), with the new option to extend using the Family Credit week
Parental Leave: 4 months per parent, which can still be taken full-time, half-time, or in 1/5th or 1/10th increments until the child’s 12th birthday
5. Child Benefits: 2026 Payment Reminders
Don't forget that your monthly child benefits (Groeipakket/Famiris/Famiwal) continue alongside these leave reforms. In 2026, most payments are scheduled for the first working day of each month. For example, the December 2025 benefit was paid on Friday, January 2, 2026.
Next Steps for Parents:
If you are expecting in 2026, check in with your employer or social insurance fund early. While the "Family Credit" simplifies the law, you still need to respect notice periods—usually three months' notice for parental leave.
For more detailed guides on navigating your specific situation, visit Pregnant in Belgium or the Federal Public Service for Employment.
