Who is entitled to child benefit and how much is it?
Child benefit is not universal – it is an income-tested benefit of roughly EUR 25.02 to 143.81 per child a month, depending on the family's income bracket. The right is governed by ZSDP-1 and decided by the social work centre based on the average monthly income per family member in the previous year. The benefit is paid for a child with registered residence in Slovenia up to age 18. It is highest in the first income bracket (around EUR 143.81 for the first child) and lowest at around EUR 25.02; with higher income the entitlement falls or disappears entirely. The myth that "everyone gets the same" is false – the benefit is strictly income-tested. Watch out for outdated information: the 20% increase for pre-school children under 4 who are not in nursery was abolished by the amendment from 1 June 2026. The 30% increase for a child in a single-parent family remains, and its definition has even been broadened.
📋 The rules
- Child benefit is income-tested; the amount is set by the family's income bracket based on income per family member.
- The amount ranges from about EUR 25.02 to about EUR 143.81 per child a month; higher income lowers or ends the entitlement.
- The benefit is paid for a child with registered residence in Slovenia up to age 18; the social work centre decides.
- For a child in a single-parent family each amount is increased by 30%; the definition of a single-parent family has been broadened.
- The 20% increase for pre-school children under 4 not in nursery was abolished from 1 June 2026.
🔓 Exceptions
- Families with the highest income above the top bracket are not entitled to child benefit.
- Single-parent status can now also apply to families where the other parent does not support the child or contributes less than the child's basic needs.
- Transitionally, the June 2026 payment still follows the old rules; the new definition applies only on a new application or a new decision issued ex officio.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Child benefit brings no fines, but it does bring an obligation to repay and a loss of entitlement if the data are wrong or late. The social work centre sets the right on the basis of income in the previous year, so higher income or a wrongly reported situation can mean a lower bracket or even the end of entitlement. If you receive the benefit on the basis of false or concealed data, you must repay the overpaid amounts, together with any default interest. Income counts the earnings of all family members, including a cohabiting partner, so a shared household can lower or remove the entitlement. Because the June 2026 amendment abolished the relief for pre-school children under 4 outside nursery, counting on that item leads to wrong expectations. Changes (a birth, a divorce, a change in income) must be reported, otherwise the right is corrected retroactively and the difference is recovered.
📎 Official sources
- PISRS · legislation register (ZSDP-1, child benefit) →
- e-uprava · child benefit →
- Social Work Centres of Slovenia · child benefit →
❓ Frequently asked
How much is child benefit?
Child benefit depends on the family's income bracket and ranges from about EUR 25.02 to 143.81 per child a month. It is highest in the first income bracket for the first child, and with higher income the amount falls or disappears entirely.
Up to what age is the benefit paid?
Child benefit is paid for a child with registered residence in Slovenia up to the age of 18. The social work centre decides the right and the amount based on the family's income in the previous calendar year.
Does the 20% bonus for under-4s outside nursery still apply?
No, that 20% increase for pre-school children under 4 who are not enrolled in nursery was abolished by the amendment from 1 June 2026. The 30% increase in the amount for a child in a single-parent family, however, remains.
When does a family count as single-parent?
Single-parent status is no longer limited to cases where the other parent is unknown or has died. It can now also apply to families where the other parent does not support the child or contributes less than the child's basic needs.
Do I have to report changes?
Yes, changes such as a birth, a divorce or a change in income must be reported to the social work centre. If you receive the benefit on the basis of wrong or outdated data, you must repay the overpaid amounts, with default interest where applicable.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “child benefit amount slovenia 2026”
- “child benefit income bracket”
- “child benefit single parent family”
- “child benefit until what age”
- “child benefit csd application”
- “how much is child benefit slovenia”