News item | 07-11-2023 | 14:29
The House of Representatives has adopted an amendment to further increase the maximum hourly prices for childcare allowance in 2024. In this way, the maximum hourly price will be more closely aligned with the rates that parents have to pay for childcare. To achieve this, Minister Van Gennip (Social Affairs and Employment) is working on an urgent amendment to the Childcare Allowance Decree.
Additional increase
From 2024, the maximum hourly prices will be increased to 2.95% above the current average rate for all types of childcare. This means that the maximum hourly price for day care will increase to € 10.25. For out-of-school care the amount increases to € 9.12 and for childminder care the hourly price increases to € 7.53. This additional increase in the maximum hourly price costs €508 million and is in addition to the regular increase of approximately 6% that had already been announced.
The intention is that the additional increase in the maximum hourly prices will not lead to higher rates for parents. Minister Van Gennip will discuss this with the sector. The childcare sector is a market sector.
Higher prices have already been paid out earlier
The Benefits Service will pay parents higher advances based on the new maximum hourly prices from the end of December 2023, even before the Emergency Decree has been definitively adopted. Allowances therefore anticipate the decision-making process, so that parents can access the higher advances as quickly as possible. This prevents parents from retroactively receiving a one-off deviating higher amount of childcare allowance in mid-2024, which could lead to confusion.
Open for consultation as soon as possible
The emergency amendment to the Childcare Allowance Decree will be made available for public (internet) consultation as soon as possible. Anyone who wants to can do so internetconsultatie.nl comment.