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Gezin SZW

Child benefit

Are you a parent or carer of a child under the age of 18 who lives with you, and are you a resident of the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius or Saba)? Then you may be entitled to child benefit.

Child benefit is a monthly contribution towards the cost of raising children from birth up to and including the age of 17. Your income does not affect your entitlement. Child benefit is a non-repayable payment; you do not have to pay it back. The RCN unit SZW pays out the child benefit. You must first apply for child benefit in order to receive it.

How to apply for child benefit (online or in person)

You can apply for child benefit easily online. Complete the child benefit application form and send it by email to kinderbijslag@rijksdienstcn.com.

Download the child benefit application form.

Please include scans of the following documents with your completed form:

  • Your sédula (make a secure copy). This is used solely to verify your identity;
  • If another person living at the same address also provides care for the child: a secure copy of this person’s sédula;
  • If you have guardianship: the guardianship order;
  • If your child is abroad for medical reasons: a medical certificate;
  • If your child is abroad for educational purposes: a school statement;
  • If you do not have Dutch nationality: your valid residence permit;
  • If you are moving from the European Netherlands: the termination letter (AKW) from the SVB (this will help speed up the process).

You can also visit the SZW unit during child benefit consultation hours to submit your application in person.

Do you have a new child to register?

If you are already receiving child benefit and you have another child, you must submit a new application for that child. A short version of the form is available for this.

By law, we have a maximum of 8 weeks to process your application. However, we will do our best to handle it faster. Be sure to include all required documents to avoid delays.

When will I receive child benefit?

You are entitled to child benefit from the month in which you meet all the conditions on the first day of that month. Child benefit is paid at the end of each month.

Example: Your child is born on 5 May. On 1 June, you meet all the requirements. You will then receive your first child benefit payment at the end of June.

You can receive child benefit retroactively for up to 12 months, if you were entitled to it.

Example: Your child is born on 5 May. You submit your application in August, and it is approved in October. Your entitlement starts in June. In October, you will receive child benefit for June, July, August, September, and October.

You can find the current child benefit amounts here.

My child is turning 18

Child benefit is intended to help cover the cost of raising children from 0 to 17 years. The month after your child turns 18, child benefit stops automatically. If this does not happen, you must inform us immediately.

My child is going to study

If your child receives student finance, you will still receive child benefit as long as your child is under 18. You do not need to report this separately.

Is your child under 18 and going to study abroad?
Each year, send a signed proof of enrolment from the educational institution to kinderbijslag@rijksdienstcn.com. Please do this as soon as your child is deregistered from the Civil Affairs department (Burgerzaken). This helps prevent child benefit from being stopped unnecessarily.

For further information, please consult the official laws and regulations concerning child benefit.

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