Adoption Premium in Brussels

The adoption procedure can be difficult and lengthy. But applying for your Adoption Premium and Child Benefit from KidsLife certainly isn’t!
We’re happy to explain how to apply for the Adoption Allowance or Adoption Premium!
What is the adoption premium?

What is the adoption premium?

Similar to the Starting Amount that is paid upon the birth of a child, an adoption premium is paid upon the adoption of a child.

  • Adoption premium is a one-off premium for an adoption. 
  • Certain conditions apply for receiving this premium. 
  • Amount depends on your place of residence. 
  • A Starting Amount or adoption premium must never have been paid to the adoptive parent or a cohabiting partner for the same child.
What are the conditions for applying for an Adoption Premium?

What are the conditions for applying for an Adoption Premium?

Adoption Premium or Adoption Starting Amount for adoptions within Belgium

You must satisfy 3 conditions for entitlement to the Adoption Premium (which is also known as the Adoption Starting Amount) in Flanders:

  1. It must concern the adoption of a child with a potential Child Benefit entitlement in Belgium. The adopted child must therefore satisfy the same conditions as other children receiving the monthly Child Benefit or Growth Package.
     
  2. An application must be submitted to the Juvenile Court or Family Court. If it concerns a foreign adoption, then an additional adoption certificate must be submitted.
     
  3. The adopted child must form part of the applicants' family.

Please note: The adoptive parent or partner with whom the child lives or forms a de facto family must never have received an Adoption Premium or Starting Amount/Maternity Allowance for that same adopted child.

Example 1: 
John wants to adopt his stepson Nick. However, he cannot claim an Adoption Premium because Nick's mother Silvia (to whom John is married) received a Maternity Allowance upon Nick’s birth.

Example 2: 
Nina and Stef adopt 2-year-old Silke who previously lived in a home. Silke's biological mother received a Maternity Allowance upon Silke’s birth. Nina and Stef can still claim an Adoption Premium.

Example 3: 
Peter and Ivo adopted Abel in 2015 and received an Adoption Premium for him. They adopted Suzy in 2020. Providing they satisfy all the requisite conditions, Peter and Ivo can also claim an Adoption Premium for Suzy.

 

Adoption Premium or Adoption Starting Amount for adoptions outside Belgium

The same conditions largely apply to foreign adoptions as adoptions in Belgium. However, a few additional conditions apply:

  1. It must concern the adoption of a child with a potential Child Benefit entitlement in Belgium. The adopted child must therefore satisfy the same conditions as other children receiving the monthly Child Benefit or Growth Package.
     
  2. An application must be submitted to the Juvenile Court or Family Court. If it concerns a foreign adoption, then an additional adoption certificate must be submitted. A sworn translation must also be provided for the Flemish Adoption Starting Amount.
     
  3. The adopted child must form part of the applicant’s family or be registered at the adoptive parents’ address within 2 months of adoption.
     
  4. The adoptive parent or their partner must be domiciled in Belgium.
     
  5. There must be no entitlement to an Adoption Premium under foreign regulations or regulations of another region.

Example 1:
Lies and Sanne adopt Sidi from Ghana. Sidi is 3 years old. Sidi has lived in Belgium since 5 November, 2020 and forms part of Lies and Sanne’s family. Sidi is a minor and therefore unconditionally entitled to Child Benefit in Belgium. An Adoption Premium can be paid in this case.

Example 2: 
Marie adopts Lucy. Lucy is from Korea, and came to live with Marie in Belgium in October 2020. However, Lucy is 21 years old and hasn’t studied since reaching the age of majority. Lucy is therefore no longer entitled to an Adoption Premium.

Example 3: 
Dries and David adopt Leon from France on 10 October. Leon is 3 years old. Leon joined Dries and David’s family in Belgium on 5 November, 2020. Leon is a minor and therefore unconditionally entitled to Child Benefit in Belgium. However, since there’s an entitlement to adoption premiums in France, no adoption premium can be paid in Belgium.

Example 4:
Leen adopts Camille on 20 September, 2020. Camille comes from Romania, and came to live with Leen in Belgium during October 2020. However, Camille is 21 years old and hasn’t studied since reaching the age of majority. Camille is therefore no longer entitled to Child Benefit or the Growth Package and Leen is consequently not entitled to the Adoption Premium.

How much is the Adoption Premium?

The family’s first adopted child

€ 1314,61

For each subsequent adoption.

€ 597,55

Per child

€ 1214,49

Per child

€ 1.314,61

How do you apply for an Adoption Premium?

You can apply for an Adoption Premium quickly and easily online. Enter your contact details and include a copy of your application for domestic or foreign adoption that you submitted to the competent court.

If you’re adopting a child from abroad, then you must additionally enclose a copy of the foreign adoption certificate or, failing that, the foreign placement decision with regard to adoption.

Apply for the Adoption Premium today
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