At the beginning of March, legal changes will come into force that increase the income threshold for the right to child benefit. The new rules will significantly expand the circle of beneficiaries and increase the child benefit, it says. Tportal.
From March 1st The income threshold is increasing from the current 309,01 to 618,02 euros. (from 70 to 140 percent of the budget base), which means that in the future all families with an income of up to 618,02 euros per member will be entitled to the allowance.
According to the Government's estimates, by introducing a higher census, the right to child benefit will cover around two-thirds of childrenThis is about 511 thousand children, almost twice as many as now.
Five census groups are being introduced, the highest allowance is 61,80 euros
The allowance amounts per census group will increase from the current 26,49 to 39,73 euros. 30,90 to 61,80 eurosWith the aim of a fairer distribution, two new classes have been introduced, so the allowance will in future be determined according to five census groups.
The highest amount of the allowance, 61,80 euros per child, will go to families with incomes lower than 88,29 euros per member. Beneficiaries who fall into the first census group will receive 22 euros more per child than before.
The minimum income of 30,90 euros per child will be received by families with an income between 441,45 and 618,02 euros per member. These are families that have not previously been entitled to the allowance due to a low census.
For a family of four, an average of 95 euros
According to previous regulations, the monthly income of a family with two children could not exceed 1236 euros per month (309 euros times the number of family members). Due to such a low census, only families in which one parent was unemployed or both were on the minimum wage were entitled to child benefit.
Under the new law, this limit is moved to 2472 euros, which already includes all families in which two members earn an income equal to two average Croatian salaries.
A family of four who is entitled to child benefit will now receive between 61,80 and 126,60 euros, depending on the census group they belong to. The government has calculated that the average will be around 95 euros.
Submitting a request
The Croatian Pension Insurance Institute has invited all those who were not beneficiaries of child allowance for the previous year, and who meet the specified income threshold, to submit an application. request for exercising rights for a surcharge.
Users can apply digitally, through the service in the e-Citizens application, in person at HZMO branches or by submitting an application by mail.
Applications should be submitted until February 29, 2024., but even if they submit it within 120 days of March 1, 2024, or by the end of June, their right to the allowance will be recognized.
If applicants for child benefit and members of their household have received income or pension from abroad, a copy of the employment contract abroad and evidence of the amount of the said income in net amount must be attached to the application.
Read more at Tportal.
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