(Employed) students

Higher education

Working life sucks, so why not study a bit more?
Find out whether you are entitled to child benefit here.

Are you entitled to child benefit?

If your son or daughter continue their studies, you are entitled to child benefit until they are 25, under the following conditions:

  • Your child is enrolled for at least 27 credits per academic year. These credits may be spread over different semesters, courses, educational institutions and countries.Should the number of credits fall below 27 during the academic year or your child discontinues their studies, the child benefit will then stop at the end of the month in question.
  • Your child works no more than 240 hours per quarter during the school year. Should they work more in a certain quarter, then you will receive no child benefit for the entire quarter. You can find more information about studying and working here.

There are four exceptional situations:

  • PhD – For PhD students, only the doctorate course counts to reach the minimum of 27 credits. The credits for drafting the doctoral thesis are therefore not included.
  • Additional year for a placement or final thesis – If your child is enrolled for 27 credits or more, the standard situation applies. If your child is enrolled for fewer than 27 credits, you receive child benefit up to and including the month in which your child submits their report or thesis. The first resit may be completed up to 30 June at the latest, while the deadline for the second resit is 30 September at the latest. It is important to inform us of the date as soon as possible so that repayments can be avoided.
  • Extended second resit period – The extended second resit period is a regulation whereby final-year students may finish certain study activities after the second resit period without having to enrol again. You are entitled to child benefit if your child was enrolled for at least 41 credits in the previous academic year. You receive child benefit until your child has completed all study activities required for obtaining their degree, up to 31 January in the following academic year at the latest.
  • Higher vocational education – Your child attends at least 13 course hours per week or enrols for at least 27 credits per academic year.

When do you receive child benefit?

The period in which you receive child benefit depends on when your child enrolled:

  • If your child enrolled for at least 27 credits before 1 December, you receive your child benefit during the whole academic year.
  • If your child enrolled for fewer than 27 credits before 1 December and they reach the 27 credits after a subsequent enrolment, you receive your child benefit during the whole academic year.
  • If your child enrolled for at least 27 credits on 1 December or later, you receive child benefit from the month after the enrolment.
  • If your child enrolled for fewer than 27 credits on 1 December or later and they reach the 27 credits after a subsequent enrolment, you receive child benefit from the month after the latter enrolment, retrospectively until the month after the first enrolment.

Example: Marie (48) has a son, Pierre (19), who is continuing his studies. On 2 January, he enrols for 24 credits. In March, he takes two extra modules, meaning he is now enrolled for 33 credits in total. Marie receives child benefit as from April and also receives child benefit for the months of February and March.

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