How to apply

Are you expecting or adopting a child? Congratulations! The Groeipakket provides financial support for the birth or adoption of a child: the birth benefit.

You can apply for the birth benefit at the earliest four months before the estimated date of birth. If you apply for the birth benefit before the birth of the child, you must also provide your payment fund with a doctor's certificate specifying the estimated date of birth. You will receive the birth benefit at the earliest two months before the estimated date of birth. In case of adoption, you will receive the birth benefit as soon as the child becomes part of your family.

Is it your first child?

Apply for the birth benefit at a Groeipakket payment fund of your choice.

There are five Flemish Groeipakket payment funds: the public payment fund FONS and the private payment funds Infino, KidsLife Vlaanderen, MyFamily and Parentia. You can change your payment fund after one year of affiliation. If you choose a new payment fund, this choice applies to all children in your family. You will then remain affiliated for at least one year.

You can apply for the birth benefit at your Groeipakket payment fund. If you choose another payment fund, that choice will apply to all the children in your family.

Did you already receive a birth benefit for the birth or adoption of your child? If so, you will automatically receive the monthly Groeipakket from the payment fund who paid your birth benefit.

In other cases (e.g. you move to Flanders), you can apply for the Groeipakket yourself at a Groeipakket payment fund of your choice.

Some children are also entitled to a Groeipakket allowance.

Do you already receive a Groeipakket?

You can apply for the care allowance for children with specific support needs at your Groeipakket payment fund.

You do not need to apply for the other allowances. Your payment fund automatically examines whether you are entitled to a social allowance and/or a participation allowance (childcare allowance, toddler allowance and school allowance). Your payment fund also automatically grants the orphan allowance and the foster care allowance.

Does your child live in another part of Belgium?

Children who do not live in Flanders but attend a Dutch-speaking school or non-income-based childcare in Flanders or Brussels may be entitled to a participation allowance.

You can apply for childcare allowance, toddler allowance and school allowance at a Flemish payment fund of your choice. If you do not apply, you will still receive the allowance automatically if you are entitled to it, but the investigation on whether you are entitled to it may take longer.