Around 350,000 children in Flanders and the Brussels Region will see their school allowance deposited on Monday, exactly one week before schools in Flanders reopen.
This represents 70% of the expected eligible children, slightly up from last year’s figures. For children whose data, such as enrolment and household income, had not been fully processed by the end of August, payments will follow later—in late September, October, or November, according to De Standaard.
The school allowance is an annual financial aid provided to families with school-aged children on lower incomes. Since 2019, the allocation is processed automatically as part of the “Groeipakket” benefits scheme, with no application required. Payments take place between now and December. Eligibility is assessed yearly for all children attending Dutch-speaking preschool, primary, and secondary education in Flanders or Brussels, as well as for basic nursing students.
The increase in children receiving their allowance ahead of the new school year is a positive step, says Flemish Welfare Minister Caroline Gennez (Vooruit). “For many families, this is crucial to manage the costly first month of the school year,” she emphasised.
