Every child counts for child benefit
The Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) Unit of the RCN is temporarily extending its opening hours and campaigning for child benefit applications. All parents and guardians in the Caribbean Netherlands are entitled to child benefit. Child benefit is $225 per month per child on Bonaire and Saba and $216 on St. Eustatius as from the 1st of January 2024. SZW calls on parents and guardians to apply for child benefit if they have not already done so.
Child benefit is a contribution towards the cost of raising children aged 0 to 18 years. All parents / guardians who are citizens of the Caribbean Netherlands are entitled to child benefit. It does not matter how much a person earns. Child benefit is a gift that does not need to be repaid. The Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) Unit of the RCN pays the child benefit monthly.
How to apply?
Applications for child benefit can be made at the SZW Unit of the RCN. On Bonaire, this can be done on Mondays and Wednesdays between 13:30 and 15:30 and on Fridays between 8:00 and 11:30. During the week of the 22nd to the 26th of April, there are extra consultation hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the SZW office in Playa. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, parents can apply for child benefit between 5 p.m. and 7p.m. at Plasa Chiku Goeloe in Antriol.
On Saba and St. Eustatius, child benefit can be applied for between 8 p.m. and 12 p.m. at the SZW office. From Monday the 15th up to and including Thursday the 18th of April, the SZW office will be open full days until 6 p.m. to apply for child benefit. During the special opening hours, parents and guardians who come to apply for child benefit will also receive a gift.
To apply for child benefit, you need to bring the following documents along: the I.D. card (sédula) of the applicant and partner if they live at the same address, proof of the bank account number and if one does not have the Dutch nationality: a valid residence permit of the parent/guardian and of the child(ren) for whom child benefit is applied for.
Parents/guardians can also apply for child benefit online by downloading the application form at www.rijksdienstcn.com/kinderbijslag and sending it with the necessary attachments by email to kinderbijslag@rijksdienstcn.com.