For the first time in 23 years, parents of children up to the age of 16 will get a raise in the monthly welfare payments they all receive per child regardless of household income. The Norwegian government has raised the amount to NOK 1,054 (USD 124) per child, per month.
The higher payments were a result of demands made by the Christian Democrats party when they negotiated to join Norway’s conservative government coalition and thereby finally give a majority in Parliament. They actually demanded a child welfare payment raise equal to NOK 3,200 per year per child, but settled for just over NOK 1,000 since the raise they pushed through amounts to NOK 84 per month.
Parents have been receiving NOK 970 per month, per child, since 1996. The monthly child welfare payments (called barnetrygd) were initiated decades ago, as a means of trying to ensure that all Norwegian children would receive food and milk. A total of 670,000 children currently receive the money, which many parents place into savings on their behalf. For others, it can be an important part of the household’s economy.
The higher payments will start being paid from March 29.
newsinenglish.no staff
