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Child benefit is not a perk, but a necessity, say Belgian families

07:16 18/09/2015

About 78% of Belgian households with children say that the child benefit they receive from the state is an important part of the family budget. The monthly sum rarely goes towards savings or expenditures, but is most often used to help cover the family's everyday cost of living, writes Het Nieuwsblad.

The results, from a survey of 16,500 households by the Belgian Association of Private Family Allowance Funds (VPK), show just how important the child benefit is to many families.

"We are still a bit surprised about how crucial the monthly child allowance is to keeping a household afloat," says VPK director Koen Mortier.

No less than 78% of the families surveyed say that the child benefit is an important part of their monthly budget. "We're definitely not just talking about financially vulnerable groups, but also double-income families," Mortier told Het Nieuwsblad.

The survey also shows that 63% of Belgian households with children find it hard to make ends meet every month.

Written by Robyn Boyle

Comments

Mikek1300gt

I don't understand the logic. Just because you need the money, it's not a perk? Anyway, it's yet another ridiculous case of people not needing the money if you had not taken it off them in the first place.

Sep 18, 2015 10:41
salsadancer

I find it impossible to understand how 63% of Belgian households with children find it hard to make ends meet every month. Perhaps these people should not have had as many children in the first place. I can see that families at the very extreme end of the poverty scale might use this extra cash. Everyone else should not receive anything. "ou make do" and not rely on the state to give you extra cash every month.

Sep 18, 2015 23:28
Mikek1300gt

The other day someone asked me if I could afford to have my child allowance to be stopped. Of course I said no. It would be difficult, what with all the expensive stuff we need these days, including the latest play station games for kids. Holidays cost a bomb. Have you seen the price of these designer trainers?

You get my drift......

Sep 19, 2015 08:51
Anonymous

What about giving perks and benefits to those who do not have kids?

Why is there child benefit perks only for those who have kids?
If you cannot afford to have kids then don't have them.
The world is already over-populated with many in poverty.

Sep 19, 2015 19:31