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Childcare allowance

Childcare allowance is support for parents caring for a child with a disability or longterm illness.

It is no longer possible to apply for childcare allowance, and the information on this page therefore applies only to those who have already been granted childcare allowance. If you have not already been granted a childcare allowance, you can instead apply for a care allowance for children with special needs and additional cost allowance. These are new allowances replacing childcare allowance.

How long will your childcare allowance last

The decision letter you received when you applied states how long your childcare allowance will last and when we will review the decision. The basic rule is that the decision will stop to apply when it would normally have been reviewed. We will contact you four months before your decision on childcare allowance would otherwise be reviewed or before your time-limited decision expires in order for you to apply for a care allowance for children with special needs and additional cost allowance.

If you have a child who needs extra care and supervision due to their disability, you can apply for a care allowance for children with special needs. You can apply for an additional cost allowance if you have additional costs due to your child’s disability.

Report changes

It is important to report changes that may affect your childcare allowance. Contact your case administrator if, for example,

  • your child's disability changes
  • your child's need for care and supervision changes
  • the granted assistance allowance for the child increases or decreases
  • you are granted measures or support by the municipality or region, or if the measures and support that you have increase or decrease.

Report the change as soon as possible, but no later than 14 days after you learned about the change. Otherwise, you may be required to pay back the money.

Disbursement

Childcare allowance is paid out on the 18th or 19th of every month.

Special disbursement dates

Special disbursement dates and processing times

 

The right to childcare allowance was based on a weighting of the child's need for special care and supervision as well as additional costs. The new allowances are intended to be more targeted and clear.

  • The care allowance for children with special needs replaces the part of childcare allowance relating to special care and supervision for the child.
  • Additional cost allowance for children replaces the part of the childcare allowance relating to additional costs.

Childcare allowance

This is childcare allowance in brief.

  • The right to compensation was based on a weighting of the child's need for special care and supervision as well as additional costs.
  • Only one parent has been able to receive the allowance, but there is an option to split the payment if the parents agree and have joint custody.
  • It has not been possible to receive childcare allowance retroactively upon application.
  • The right to compensation must be followed up (reviewed) at least once every two years (unless there is reason to review the case at longer intervals). Follow-up (review) also takes place in the event of a change in circumstances affecting the need for the allowance.

Care allowance for children with special needs

This is care allowance for children with special needs in brief.

  • The right to compensation is based solely on the child's need for care and supervision.
  • Two parents can receive an allowance for the same child.
  • The allowance can be distributed among the parents: the main rule is that they receive half each.
  • It is possible to receive care allowance for children with special needs retroactively up to three months before the application was submitted.
  • The right to the allowance must be followed up (reviewed) at least once every two years (unless there is reason to review the case at longer intervals). Follow-up (review) also takes place in the event of a change in circumstances affecting the need for the care allowance for children with special needs.

Additional cost allowance

This is additional cost allowance in brief.

  • The right to the allowance is based solely on the reasonable additional costs you as a parent incur as a result of your child's disability. The additional cost allowance can be granted at five levels.
  • Two parents can receive compensation for the same child.
  • The compensation can be distributed among the parents: the main rule is that they receive half each.
  • It is possible to receive additional cost allowance retroactively up to three months before the application was submitted.
  • The right to compensation must be followed up (reviewed) at least once every four years (unless there is reason to review the case at longer intervals). Follow-up (review) also takes place in the event of a change in circumstances affecting the right to compensation.

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