€150 per child: Brussels agrees new child benefit rates from 2020

Brussels' child benefit system will be overhauled in 2020, after the six parties in the regional government's majority coalition finally reached an agreement.

Every child in the Brussels region will receive €150 per month from birth under the new system. For an only child, this amount does not change throughout their childhood and is paid until they turn 24 - unless they continue in education.

For siblings, the amount increases to €160 at age 12 and €170 at age 24 if still studying. Top-ups are planned for households with an income below €31,000 a year and single-parent families with at least two children.

The agreement brings Brussels child benefit amounts broadly in line with the Walloon system, which pays €155 per month. The extra cost is estimated in the region of €30 million per year.

A "baby bonus" of €1,100 will be paid out on the birth of a first child, and €500 from the second child.

Brussels region minister-president Rudi Vervoort said: "Three quarters of the 168,000 families in Brussels that receive child benefit will receive more money from 2020 - and the rest will not lose out."