Hungary - Family benefits

The following benefits are covered in this chapter:

Family allowance (családi pótlék);
Child care fee (gyermekgondozási díj);
Adoption fee (örökbefogadói díj);
Child raising support (gyermeknevelési támogatás);
Child care allowance (gyermekgondozást segítő ellátás).

In what situation can I claim?

Family allowance (Családi pótlék)

This is a monthly allowance for raising and education expenses for children in a family. The beneficiary can be the biological parent, the spouse of the biological parent, the adoptive parent, the foster parent, the guardian, or any other person with whom a child has been temporarily placed.

Child care allowance (Gyermekgondozást segítő ellátás)

Child raising support (Gyermeknevelési támogatás)

This support is paid to the parent, the spouse of the parent, the adoptive parent or guardian who is raising three or more minor children in his or her household.

Child care fee (Gyermekgondozási díj)

The parent considered as entitled under the health insurance scheme - either the mother or the father - may be entitled to a child care fee until the child has reached the age of 2 (or the age of 3 in case of twins). If the parent is not entitled under the health insurance scheme, then a so called degree holder’s child care fee is available starting from the birth of the child, up to the age of 2.

As of 1 January 2022, grandparents who are entitled under the health insurance scheme may also apply for the Child care fee up to 2 years of age of the child (or the age of 3 in case of twins) as is a foster parent from the day of fostering, up to 2 years of age of the child.

Adoption fee (Örökbefogadói díj)

The Adoption fee is granted after the domestic adoption of all children over the age of 2 (age 3 in case of twins) and under 18 if the adoptive parent would be entitled to the Child care fee.

What conditions do I need to meet?

Family allowance (Családi pótlék)

The beneficiary can apply for this allowance for raising expenses from the birth of the child up to the compulsory schooling age (usually 0-16 years), then for secondary school education or vocational training up to 20 years of age (up to 23 years in the case of special educational needs, or without age limit in the case of a seriously disabled person without regular income). In the case of a certain number of unjustified absences of the child from school or nursery-school, the benefit has to be suspended. A child living temporarily outside the family to study, in Hungary or abroad, or for the purposes of medical treatment, is also treated as if living at home.

Child care allowance (Gyermekgondozást segítő ellátás)

Child care allowance is payable to the parent, the spouse of the parent, the adoptive parent or the guardian of a child raised under his or her roof until the age of 3 or, in the case of twins, until the end of the first year of compulsory schooling or in the case of a chronically ill or seriously disabled child, until the age of 10. The benefit can be paid to a grandparent if the child is at least 1 year old and is being raised and looked after in the parents’ house with the parents’ written consent. A parent receiving child care allowance cannot engage in paid employment until the child is six months old: when the child is above the age of six months, the parent can engage in paid employment. The grandparent cannot pursue a gainful activity before the child reaches 3 years of age; when the child is above 3 years, the beneficiary can pursue a gainful activity of no more than 30 hours a week, or without time restriction at home.

Child raising support (Gyermeknevelési támogatás)

This is payable to parents raising 3 or more children from the date when the youngest child reaches the age of 3 until that child reaches the age of 8. The person receiving child raising support can engage in paid employment for a maximum of 30 hours a week or longer if working at home. A child care allowance and child raising support cannot be drawn together.

Child care fee (Gyermekgondozási díj)

The parent considered as entitled under the health insurance scheme - either the mother or the father - may be entitled to a child care fee until the child has reached the age of 2 (or the age of 3 in case of twins). This benefit is paid to one of the parents after expiry of the infant care allowance period or after a period of the same length. The parent has to be insured, and needs at least 365 days of insurance during the last 2 years before delivery. Mothers who - in the absence of a gainful activity - would not be entitled to a child care fee, but who have completed at least 2 active semesters in higher education, subject to all conditions prescribed by law, are entitled to a child care fee until the child reaches 2 years of age (exceptionally the father may also be entitled to a child care fee based on higher education studies).

The grandparent (not retired) of the child may be entitled to the child care fee on the basis of a joint statement by the parents, until the child is aged 2.

The foster parents may also receive a child care fee from the day the child is brought up to the age of 2 if the foster parent has 365 days of insurance during the two years prior to taking care of the child and is raising the child in his or her household.

This benefit is not paid when:

the beneficiary is receiving other regular cash benefits provided on the basis of Act III of 1993 on the administration of the social security system;
the child has been temporarily placed in foster care or placed in a social institution for more than 30 days;
the child of the beneficiary has been placed in a day-care facility except when the parent is pursuing a gainful activity (integration or re-integration institutions are not included);
the beneficiary is under arrest or is in prison;
the child dies during the period of eligibility for child care fee;
before the 169^th day following the birth of the child, if the entitlement is based on higher education studies or foster parenting and the entitled person is engaged in any gainful activity in any legal relationship (not including that of a foster parent).

This benefit is not paid for grandparents when:

the grandparent is engaged in gainful employment (unless he or she is exclusively working from home);
the child was placed in a day care facility;
the grandparent receives other regular cash benefits under Act III of 1993 on administration of social benefits (except for some benefits);
the grandparent is in custody;
parents' entitlement to child care fee ceases;
parents withdraw their declaration that they have agreed to pay the child care fee to the grandparent.

Adoption Fee (Örökbefogadói díj)

The adoption fee is paid to the insured person who adopted a child aged over 2 (3 in case of twins) and under 18. This benefit is provided from the time the child is adopted, for 168 days. In order to be entitled, the insured person must have been insured for at least 365 days in the two years prior to the arrival of the child and must raise the child him/herself.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

Family allowance (Családi pótlék)

In 2022 family allowance is (per month):

for a family with 1 child, HUF 12,200;
for a single-parent family with 1 child, HUF 13,700;
for a family with 2 children, HUF 13,300 per child;
for a single-parent family with 2 children, HUF 14,800 per child;
for a family with 3 children or more, HUF 16,000 per child;
for a single-parent family with 3 children or more, HUF 17,000 per child;
for a family with a chronically ill or seriously disabled child, HUF 23,300;
for a single-parent family with a chronically ill or seriously disabled child, HUF 25,900.

The allowance is due and paid for the whole month, regardless of the date of application and the date of cessation of the benefits.

Child care allowance (Gyermekgondozást segítő ellátás)

The monthly child care allowance is equal to the minimum old-age pension (HUF 28,500 gross in 2022), regardless of the number of children; except for twins, where the amount is multiplied according to the number of children; for fractions of a month, the allowance is calculated in thirtieths of the monthly amount.

Child raising support (Gyermeknevelési támogatás)

The child raising support is equal to the minimum old-age pension (HUF 28,500 gross in 2022), regardless of the number of children; for fractions of a month, the allowance is calculated in thirtieths of the monthly amount.

Child care fee (Gyermekgondozási díj)

The child care fee amounts to 70% of the daily average gross earnings of the period specified in law. The maximum amount is 70% of the double of the minimum wage (HUF 280,000 per month in 2022).

For those who are eligible because of their BA studies, the child care fee is 70% of the minimum wage, (HUF 140,000 in 2022), or in the case of MA or PhD studies, 70% of the guaranteed wage minimum (HUF 182,000 in 2022).

Foster parents are entitled to child care fee of 55% of the minimum wage if they are employed only as foster parents.

The application for child care fee has to be submitted to the employer (or the health insurance institution in the case of not insured student mother).

Adoption Fee (Örökbefogadói díj)

The amount of the adoption fee is 70% of the average daily gross income for the period specified in the law, which, however, may not exceed 70% of the double of the minimum wage (HUF 280,000 per month in 2022).