Child benefits for a child born in the Netherlands: what Ukrainian families are entitled to
If a child is born in the Netherlands to parents holding temporary protection status, the family may be eligible for several types of support at once — from the quarterly Kinderbijslag to the supplementary Kindgebonden budget.
International Law Firm "Zahist" has for more than ten years assisted Ukrainians with legalization and social benefit matters abroad and maintains its own office in the Netherlands, and therefore knows gemeente and SVB procedures not from hearsay but from daily practice.
Our experience shows that child benefits in the Netherlands depend directly on how quickly the family registers the birth and obtains the child’s BSN, because without that number it is impossible to apply for any benefit.
How a child’s birth is registered in the Netherlands
The birth of a child must be reported to the local gemeente (municipality) within 3 working days — this may be done by one of the parents in person or through an authorized representative.
After registration, the municipality assigns the child a BSN (burgerservicenummer) — a unique number without which it is impossible to apply for any of the benefits.
Registration details are automatically transferred to the SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank), and two to four weeks after the birth the family receives a letter with instructions on how to apply for Kinderbijslag via DigiD.
Who is responsible for child benefits in the Netherlands
Kinderbijslag is awarded and paid by the SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank) — the state social insurance institution, not the local municipality.
Kindgebonden budget is administered by Belastingdienst/Toeslagen — a separate tax authority for benefits that operates independently of the SVB, although data between the agencies is partially synchronized.
The gemeente is responsible only for registering the fact of birth itself and assigning the BSN — without that number it is not possible to submit an application either to the SVB or to Belastingdienst.
Kinderbijslag: quarterly child benefit
Kinderbijslag is the basic benefit for each child, which the SVB pays once a quarter, and its amount in 2026 depends on the child’s age, not on the family’s income.
For children aged 0 to 5 the payment is EUR 291.49 per quarter, for ages 6 to 11 — EUR 353.95, and for ages 12 to 17 — EUR 416.41.
Any person who lawfully resides or works in the Netherlands and cares for a child is entitled to Kinderbijslag, including holders of temporary protection status — the specific situation should be clarified with the SVB on an individual basis.
Kindgebonden budget: supplementary support
Kindgebonden budget is a supplementary means-tested payment on top of Kinderbijslag, available to families with children under 18 provided that the family’s income and assets do not exceed the established threshold.
For 2026 the asset limit is EUR 146,011 for a person without a tax partner and EUR 184,633 in total for a family with a partner, while the income limit depends on the composition of the family.
If the family already receives Kinderbijslag, Belastingdienst/Toeslagen may award Kindgebonden budget automatically, but for the first child a separate application via toeslagen.nl is usually required.
Comparison of the main child benefits
| Benefit | Amount | Eligibility condition |
| Kinderbijslag (0-5 years) | EUR 291.49/quarter | Lawful residence or work in the NL |
| Kinderbijslag (6-11 years) | EUR 353.95/quarter | Lawful residence or work in the NL |
| Kinderbijslag (12-17 years) | EUR 416.41/quarter | Lawful residence or work in the NL |
| Kindgebonden budget | Depends on income and family composition | Income and assets below the limit; Kinderbijslag in place |
Medical care for mother and child
Pregnancy in the Netherlands is managed by a verloskundige (midwife) or a gynaecologist, and childbirth and follow-up care are covered by the mandatory health insurance zorgverzekering, which holders of temporary protection are required to take out.
After the birth, the child is assigned to a local child health clinic (consultatiebureau), where scheduled check-ups and vaccinations are provided free of charge in the early years of life.
If the child was born before moving to the Netherlands
If the child was born outside the Netherlands and the family subsequently moved, registration in the Personal Records Database (BRP) through the local gemeente will be required in order to obtain a BSN and subsequent benefits.
Registration will require a translated and legalized birth certificate — the exact translation requirements should be clarified with the specific municipality in advance.
After the BSN is assigned, the child gains access to Kinderbijslag and Kindgebonden budget on the same general terms that apply to children born in the Netherlands.
Which documents need to be prepared
The standard package includes confirmation of birth registration, the child’s BSN, the parent’s temporary protection status, and DigiD credentials for electronic submission of applications.
- Register the child’s birth with the gemeente within 3 working days
- Wait for the child to be assigned a BSN
- Obtain or use an existing DigiD to submit applications
- Apply for Kinderbijslag and, where necessary, for Kindgebonden budget
How family income is calculated for Kindgebonden budget
Belastingdienst takes into account the combined income and assets of both partners if the family has a tax partner, and not only the income of the person submitting the application.
Income and asset limits are reviewed by the state annually, so the current figures should be checked immediately before filing the application rather than relying on data from previous years.
Our experience shows that families often miscalculate income, forgetting to include savings held in bank accounts, which also count toward the Kindgebonden budget limit.
Particularities for Ukrainian families with temporary protection
Temporary protection status does not require a separate residence permit, but entitlement to Kinderbijslag is still assessed individually in light of the family’s specific circumstances.
International Law Firm "Zahist" regularly advises Ukrainian families on these nuances — how to properly evidence residence status and employment when applying to the SVB.
Our experience shows that status and employment evidence gathered in advance significantly speeds up the processing of an application compared with a situation where documents are supplied only after a request from the authority.
It should also be borne in mind that temporary protection in the Netherlands primarily confers a right to employment as an employee rather than to self-employment, which may also affect the calculation of certain benefits.
Where and how to submit applications
An application for Kinderbijslag is submitted online through the SVB personal account using DigiD, usually after receiving a letter with instructions two to four weeks after the birth.
An application for Kindgebonden budget for the first child is submitted separately via the toeslagen.nl website — a trial calculation (proefberekening) can also be made there to estimate the amount of the payment in advance.
Our experience shows that a preliminary trial calculation helps avoid unpleasant surprises at the annual recalculation if the family’s income changed during the year.
What to do if a benefit is refused
A refusal by the SVB or Belastingdienst may be challenged by way of bezwaar within six weeks of receiving the decision — the exact deadline is always stated in the notice itself.
Our experience shows that a significant share of refusals is linked to incomplete family income data or delay in BSN registration, rather than to a genuine lack of entitlement to the benefit.
Before filing a formal bezwaar, it is worth carefully rereading the reason for refusal and, where possible, supplying the missing documents — this is often faster than a full challenge of the decision.
Typical mistakes when applying for benefits
The first mistake is postponing birth registration beyond three working days, which delays assignment of the BSN and the entire subsequent chain of benefit applications.
The second is failing to submit a separate application for Kindgebonden budget for the first child, assuming that the payment will be awarded automatically together with Kinderbijslag.
The third is failing to update income and family composition data with Belastingdienst, which leads to an incorrect Kindgebonden budget calculation and a subsequent recalculation.
How we help arrange child benefits
We support Ukrainian families at every stage — from birth registration with the gemeente through to filing applications with the SVB and Belastingdienst — so that child benefits in the Netherlands are awarded without delays and unnecessary refusals on formal grounds.
Our experience shows that a preliminary review of the full document package significantly shortens the processing time of an application and reduces the risk of calculation errors.
We also help clarify how a parent’s employment status affects the calculation of the benefits due, as this is a frequent source of confusion for newly arrived families.
If your child was born in the Netherlands and you are unsure which child benefits in the Netherlands you are entitled to, it is better to confirm the current conditions in advance rather than find out only after an SVB refusal.
