Everything you need to know about the €200 child allowance

BarcelonaThe Council of Ministers recently approved the new Sustainable Development Strategy 2030, which includes the long-awaited universal childcare allowance, or in other words, the aid of 200 euros per dependent child per month (€2,400 per year). The Spanish government's dual objective with this measure is, on the one hand, to provide financial assistance to families and, on the other, to combat child poverty and exclusion, which currently affect one in three children in Spain. But when will it come into effect? ​​Will all families have access? Will it replace other forms of aid? Will it affect income tax returns? Creatures We have spoken with the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030 to resolve these and other questions that have been sent to us by our readers through our social media channels.

When will it come into effect?

Currently, the measure is just an announcement, and approval, as acknowledged by the ministry headed by Pablo Bustinduy, "will not be in the short term." In fact, negotiations are underway within the Spanish government itself, particularly with the Ministry of Finance, which is in no hurry to move forward because it involves allocating millions of euros. Once the negotiations within the Spanish executive branch are complete, the budget allocation for the benefit (which the ministry currently prefers not to make public) must be included in the national budget. Subsequently, it must undergo parliamentary processing in both the Congress and the Senate, which could lead to changes in the benefit—for example, in the amount received per child. However, if elections were held during all these procedures and the governing party did not support this measure, it would all come to nothing. Who will be eligible for this benefit?

It's a universal benefit, and therefore all families with children under 18 will receive it, regardless of their income. However, the ministry hasn't ruled out the possibility that the benefit might initially start for younger children and gradually expand over the years, or that it might begin with a lower amount of €200, which would also increase over time.

If, for example, there are three children, would the amount triple?

Yes, it's 200 euros per dependent child, so if a family has three children who meet the age requirements, the aid would be 600 euros.

And if the parents are separated, how would it be distributed and who could apply?

It's not yet defined either. We'll have to wait for the final text to see what the steps are in cases of, for example, shared custody of a child or sole custody.

Does this benefit replace the €100 maternity tax credit?

Yes, it will replace the current €100 allowance that working mothers receive. So, instead of receiving €100 for having a child, they will receive double that amount, regardless of whether they work or not. "The €100 allowance would be replaced by a new citizen's right," insists the ministry headed by Pablo Bustinduy.

How will it be requested?

It is currently unclear how this benefit should be applied for, but Pedro Sánchez's government wants the process to be as simple as possible to avoid falling into a bureaucratic quagmire, as is currently the case with other benefits, such as the child support supplement to the minimum living income. Will the benefit have any fiscal impact?

This is another point that remains unclear and will depend on how the negotiations progress. However, the Ministry of Social Services has made it clear that it must be accompanied by a "fairer" tax system, meaning "those with more money should pay more taxes."

Is this benefit already in place in other countries?

Yes, for example, in Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, France, and Hungary, among other European Union countries. In fact, within the EU, only eight countries, including Spain, They do not receive this child benefit. of a universal or almost universal nature.