
Do you know what the childcare benefits in Hungary are?
If you are a permanent resident in Hungary, you are entitled to certain childcare benefits in Hungary. In this post, we will be taking a closer look at the benefits provided by the state to new parents.
Understanding childcare benefits in Hungary
Hungary has traditional values, and when it comes to having a family and raising children, there is no exception to the rule. The Hungarian constitution even emphasises the importance of a man and woman being married when they have children. Even though there is a strong focus on parents being married in Hungary, those that choose cohabiting instead of being married are still entitled to childcare benefits.
Given that Hungary has a conservative value system, it is more or less expected that a new mother stays home with their children for the first few years. Most nurseries in Hungary accept babies from the age of 20 weeks, but the vast amount of Hungarian women stay home with their children until they are about two or three years old. The good news is that the state provides families with allowances and benefits to make this easier on families.
This is more than just a social norm and is something that is depicted in parental leave in Hungary too. New mothers are entitled to 24 weeks of maternity leave. This leave can be extended to three years with paid support. New fathers in Hungary only get five days of paid maternity leave that have to be taken within the first two months of the baby’s birth.
Hungary’s childcare benefits
Since most women stay at home their young children, the state offers some benefits to ease the financial burden of a loss of a second household income. Hungarian government gives new families a once-off maternity contribution with the birth of every new child.
There is also a prenatal aid, which is provided every month for the duration of the 24-week maternity leave period. When maternity leave has come to an end, there is childcare pay, which is around 70% of an average salary, paid until the child turns two. Childcare pay can also be extended (called childcare aid) and is payable until a child turns three years old. Hungarian families that have three or more children can also apply for child-raising support, which is payable until their youngest child turns eight years old.
Daycare and kindergarten in Hungary
Hungarian parents that chose to go back to work can opt to place their children in nurseries or daycare facilities. They can also choose between state-owned and private facilities. There are not many of these facilities in Hungary, which means that they are often over-crowded.
Children are expected to attend kindergarten from the age of three years. Kindergartens provide full-day care, and most of them are state-funded. This means that in most cases, parents only have to pay the costs of meals for their children.
Need more information?
If you’re looking at moving to Hungary and need more information on childcare in Hungary, we are here to help. The team of immigration lawyers at Hngary.com are ready and willing to help answer all your questions. Get in touch with us today and see how we can lend you a helping hand!