Sociale toeslag (social allowance)
The sociale toeslag is an additional form of financial support provided under the Vlaams Groeipakket. It is intended for families on lower incomes, to help them better cover the costs of bringing up their children.
The sociale toeslag is paid on top of the basisbedrag that each child receives.
Amount
The amount depends on your income and the number of children in your family.
It is also important when your child became eligible for the Vlaams Groeipakket:
- before 1 January 2019: usually the old amounts
- from 1 January 2019 (born or upon moving to Flanders): the new amounts
Children born on or after 1 January
Number of children Income thresholds Amount per month 1 or 2 children income below 40,701.59 euros 73.68 euros per child 1 or 2 children income between 40,701.59 and 47,485.19 euros 37.31 euros per child 3 or more children income below 40,701.59 euros 108.29 euros per child 3 or more children income between 40,701.59 and 76,560.64 euro 85.22 euros per child Children born before 1 January 2019
- Stap 1
Scenario 1: all your children were born before 1 January 2019
A. Your household income is less than 40,187.19 euros
Basisbedrag of the child Amount per month 106.27 euros 70.09 euros 196.64 euros 49.52 euros 265.87 euros 21.88 euros If you are on long-term sick leave or part of a single-parent family, these amounts may differ. Please contact your payment provider.
B. Your household income is between 40,187.19 and 47,485.19 euros and you have up to two children
Number of children Income thresholds Amount per month 1 or 2 children income between 40,701.59 and 47,485.19 euros 37.31 euros per child - Stap 2
Scenario 2: you have children born both before 2019 and after 2019
Een overzicht van alle bedragen: Bedragen en betaaldata.
Conditions
The sociale toeslag depends on your family income and the number of children in your family. You can find the income thresholds in the table above.
For families with three or more children, there is an additional condition: at least one child must be receiving the new basisbedrag (born in or after 2019).
We check this automatically for all families receiving the Vlaams Groeipakket.
To determine your family income, we look at your income if you live alone. If you live with your partner, we look at both of your incomes.
Do you need to apply for something?
The sociale toeslag is automatically granted if you meet the conditions. Eligibility is assessed on the basis of the available information. In most cases, therefore, you do not need to take any action yourself.
We base our calculations on the tax assessment notice from two years ago, although this may not always reflect your current situation. If, due to circumstances, your income has suddenly fallen significantly — or if you have become a single person — you may still be eligible for the sociale toeslag. This is the ‘alarm bell’ procedure. (in Dutch) To do this, please contact your payment provider (in Dutch).
If you receive a social assistance allowance, an income replacement allowance (inkomensvervangende tegemoetkoming or IVT) (in Dutch) or an income guarantee for the elderly (inkomensgarantie voor ouderen or IGO), your payment provider will automatically grant you the sociale toeslag for those months.
In other cases, you must provide your payment provider with proof as soon as possible that your income has been below the income thresholds for at least six recent consecutive months. To do this, ask your payment provider for the correct form.
Monthly payment
The sociale toeslag is paid monthly together with the basisbedrag, around the 8th of the month following the month for which you are entitled to it. If the 8th falls on a weekend or a public holiday, the payment will be made on the last working day before that date.
Example: If your child is entitled to the supplement from April, you will receive the first payment around 8 May.