Family & child allowance in Denmark

What are the child and youth benefits?

The family allowance is a tax-free, monthly payment provided by the Danish government to parents to help support the upbringing of their children and cover the cost of basic needs such as food, clothing, and bills for childcare institutions (daycare). The benefit is available for all children under the age of 18.

The amount of the family allowance you can receive will depend on the child’s age - and your income. Your family allowance will be reduced or eliminated if your income exceeds a certain threshold. This will depend on your household’s income and the number of children you have.

As of 2023, the payment per child is*:

• 0-2 years: 4,746 DKK per quarter
• 3-6 years: 3,756 DKK per quarter
• 7-14 years: 2,955 DKK per quarter
• 15-17: 985 DKK per month

*The data has been retrieved from Borger.dk , and it’s important to note that the amounts might change.

Who is eligible for the family allowance?

To be eligible for family allowance in Denmark, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be a resident of Denmark to receive child allowance. This means you must have a registered address in Denmark, have a permanent residency permit, or have a temporary residency permit with a valid work permit. Your child should also be a resident of Denmark.
• You can only receive family allowance if you have a child under 18 who lives with you.
• You must have legal custody of the child - or be the child’s primary caregiver.
• You must be fully liable for tax in Denmark.

Read more about the eligibility criteria here

What is child allowance?

Child allowance is an extra allowance you can get if you are a single parent, student, pensioner - or in another situation where you might need extra financial support.

You can get child allowance:

• If you are a single parent
• If you have twins, triplets, or quadruplets
• If you are retired
• For parents in education or internship (students)
• If you have adopted a child as a single parent
• If one or both parents are deceased

Read more about child allowance at LifeinDenmark

Depending on your situation, there are some specific conditions that you need to meet the terms of. Generally, your child must be under 18 to receive child allowance, and you must have lived and worked in Denmark for at least 6 of the last 10 years to get full payments - determined by the ‘principle of qualification .’

Like with family allowance, the amount of child allowance you can receive varies depending on your income and the number of children in the household.

What is child support?

Child support is money one parent provides the other parent - in case of divorce - to support their child’s upbringing.

The Danish Child Support Act mandates that both parents are responsible for providing financial support to their kids, regardless of whether they’re married or not. The parent who doesn’t live with the child is usually required to pay child support to the other parent with custody.

Child support payments are calculated based on both parent’s incomes and the child’s needs, with the parent who does not have primary custody usually being responsible for making the payments.

The Agency of Family law (Famlieretshuset) is a public authority that ensures payments are made on time and that legal action can be taken - if necessary.

How to apply for family and child allowance?

You can apply for family benefits by completing an online application form or filling out a paper form, and sending it to borger.dk. You need a MitID to apply for the benefits.

Apply for child benefits as an EU/EEA citizen here.

You must provide documentation to verify your identity and your child’s identity. These documents include the following:

• Your child’s birth certificate or passport
• Your own identification documents (such as a passport or Danish driving license)
• Documentation of your residency status, such as a residence permit
• Documentation of your bank account details

If you’re applying for child allowance, the application will differ depending on your situation. If you’re a single parent, you can apply for child allowance here.

NB: The self-service solution is in Danish. So, if you need assistance, read the instructions in English here.

Remember to always notify Udbetaling Danmark of any changes to your circumstances, as they can impact the amount of allowance you can receive.

When and how are the benefits paid?

Family benefits are administered by Udbetaling Danmark - Denmark’s Public Benefits Administration. The benefits are paid every quarter when your child is below the age 15. After 15, the benefit is paid every month. The benefit is paid in advance.

If you have a NemKonto (a digital account with a Danish financial institution), the payment will be deposited directly into your account. The benefits are tax-free.

Other benefits for families in Denmark

In addition to child allowance, families in Denmark may be eligible for other social welfare benefits that include:

• Parental leave: Parents can take up to 52 weeks of paid parental leave per child, which can be shared between parents. Read more about maternal/paternal benefits here.
• Childcare subsidy: Parents can receive a subsidy from their local municipality to help cover the costs of childcare. You can learn more about this subsidy through your local municipality.
• Housing benefits: Danish citizens may be eligible to receive housing benefits to help with the cost of housing. Read more about housing benefits here.
• Healthcare benefits: All residents in Denmark have access to free healthcare services - including maternity care and pediatric care . This can help with the cost of medical care for you and your child.

Get a Danish bank account and NemKonto to receive public benefits

Lunar is a Danish, award-winning digital bank. If you become a user, you can open a free Danish bank account that includes a digital card as well as an easy-to-use banking app.

You can also open your NemKonto with Lunar so you can receive payments from the Danish authorities and welfare system – such as maternity and paternity benefits, as well as child allowance benefits.

With MitID, the sign-up process is easy and 100% digital. And if you’re approved, we can offer you an account within days instead of months.

Last updated August 16, 2023. This article is based on general information, and there may be special rules and circumstances that you should be aware of. This should not be considered counseling.