Reimbursement of childcare costs

In some situations, you can apply to us for an additional allowance towards the cost of childcare, in addition to the childcare allowance paid by the tax authorities.

You can receive this additional childcare allowance if one of the following situations applies to you:

1. You are receiving social security benefits and are on a programme to help you find work.
2. You have income from work and a supplementary social security benefit.
3. You are under 18 and you are at school or in further education.
4. You are enrolled at a school or educational institution and you have no income from work.

The following additional conditions apply:

• Your child attends a nursery, after-school care or a childminder. You cannot receive any allowance for other forms of childcare. Other forms include, for example: pre-school playgroup, lunchtime childcare or a babysitter who is a friend or relative.
• The childcare organisation is in the National Childcare Register (LRK).

Request

Please complete the online form for the application for additional childcare allowance by clicking the ‘Apply’ button at the top of this page. You must upload at least the following supporting document:

• A copy of the contract or placement agreement from the organisation(s) that will be providing the childcare. This must include at least the following details:
  • the number of hours of childcare per child
  • the hourly rate
  • the start date

We aim to reach a decision on your application within 6 weeks

If you are not entitled to the childcare allowance from the Tax and Customs Administration and are unable to make use of the Early Years Childcare Grant Scheme. You may be entitled to compensation on the basis of a Social Medical Indication (SMI).

A Social Medical Indication (SMI) is a safety-net scheme that enables us, as a local authority, to provide you with temporary financial support towards the costs of childcare if, due to certain medical or social circumstances, you are (temporarily) not entitled to childcare allowance.

Certain conditions apply if you wish to apply for a contribution towards the cost of childcare under a Social Medical Indication (SMI). You can only apply for a contribution if you also meet these conditions. If you meet these conditions, we will forward your application to the Centre for Youth and Family for an SMI assessment.

• You are not entitled to childcare allowance from the tax authorities or the Early Years Childcare Grant Scheme.
• Due to certain medical or social circumstances, you need childcare for a temporary period.
• Your family’s total net monthly income is less than 125% of the social assistance threshold.

You will receive the maximum hourly rates set by the central government. You can read more about this under the heading ‘Amount of allowance’. You will receive the allowance for a maximum of 30 hours per week for a maximum of 3 months. You may be entitled to a 3-month extension.

Request

If you believe you are eligible on the basis of a Social Medical Indication (SMI) and wish to apply for a childcare cost allowance, please complete the online form ‘Application for childcare cost allowance (SMI)’ via the ‘Apply’ button at the top of this page. In this form, we ask you to provide the following details:

• Information from experts, such as a GP or a social worker.
• Income details for you and your partner, if applicable, such as
  * Benefits from the UWV or SVB
  * Income from employment
  * Spousal and/or child maintenance
  * State Pension (AOW)
  * Pension and annuity payments
  * Other income
  * General tax credit
  * Income-related combination allowance.

We aim to reach a decision on your application within 6 weeks.

You will be reimbursed up to a maximum amount per hour of childcare.

The The maximum hourly rates for 2024 are:

• €10.25 for a nursery
• €9.12 for after-school care
• €7.53 for childcare provided by a childminder.

The The maximum hourly rates in 2025 are:

• €10.71 for a nursery
• €9.52 for after-school care
• €8.10 for childcare provided by a childminder.

If your childcare costs more than the allowance, you will have to pay the additional costs yourself.