Child Allowance (Croatia)

dječji doplatak or doplatak za djecu (Child Allowance)

In addition to tax incentives, families are entitled to a stipend for each child given that meet certain requirements. This stipend is drawn from the HZMO pension fund and it is called dječji doplatak or doplatak za djecu.

To qualify for this stipend, the parent(s) making the application must:

• Have Croatian citizenship or permanent residence and at least 3 years of continuous residence in Croatia
• Have an asylum status, or the status of a foreigner under subsidiary protection or the corresponding status of a member of their family
  Live in the same household with the children and raise them
• Have a total household income in the previous year that does not exceed 70% of the budget base. The base is determined by all household income earned in the previous calendar year. The maximum income per household member allowed to receive benefits is 2.328,20 per month.

The monthly benefits based on income are:

• Family with a monthly income per member of 543,14 kuna or less gets 299,34 kuna monthly per child
• Family with a monthly income per member of 543,15 to 1.119,53 kuna gets 249,45 kuna monthly per child
• Family with a monthly income per member of 1.119,54 to 2.328,20 kuna gets 199,56 kuna monthly per child

More fun facts about the child allowance:

• The allowance is paid monthly until the child reaches the age of 19 or 20, depending on the length of secondary education, if the child continues with secondary education. If the child quits school after elementary school (usually when the child is 15), the allowance will be terminated.
• The amount does not change as the child ages.
• The allowance cannot be granted for children with residence outside of Croatia unless it is stipulated differently by international agreements.
• The allowance will be terminated if the child leaves Croatia for a period longer than 3 months (for example, to go study abroad) unless it is stipulated differently by international agreements.
• Benefits will only change under two conditions:
  Household income per member changes
• New laws are implemented that affect the thresholds resulting in a change or loss of benefits

There are special circumstances where the child allowance is increased:

• For a child without both parents or a child whose parents are both unknown, of unknown residence, totally incapable of independent life and work, or if their business ability is taken away, the corresponding amount of allowance is increased by 25%
• For a child with a single parent or for a child with one unknown parent with unknown residence, totally incapable of independent life and work, or if the parent’s business ability is taken away, the corresponding amount of allowance is increased by 15%
• For a child with health impairment, the parent is entitled to a 25% extra allowance added to the child’s existing obligatory allowance