Child allowances in Bulgaria 2026: amounts and income limit
Child allowances in Bulgaria in 2025 and 2026: amount by number of children, the income threshold, required documents and how to apply step by step.
Do you have children and wonder whether you are entitled to child allowances? In 2026 the rules changed, and the new income threshold is now BGN 811 per family member. Find out how much you can get, which documents you need and how to apply, step by step.
❓How much are child allowances in 2025 and 2026?
Source: ЗСПД, Art. 7
Amount of child allowances: 2025 vs 2026
The amounts of the allowances did not change for 2026, but the income threshold was raised. This means that more families now meet the conditions. Here is the full comparison:
| Number of children | Full amount (100%) | Reduced amount (80%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 child | BGN 50 (€26) | BGN 40 (€20) |
| 2 children | BGN 110 (€57) | BGN 88 (€45) |
| 3 children | BGN 165 (€85) | BGN 132 (€68) |
| 4+ children | BGN 175 (€90) | BGN 140 (€72) |
| Twins | BGN 75 per child | BGN 60 per child |
Monthly amounts. You get 80% when income is between the basic and the upper threshold.
BGN 811
New income threshold for 2026 per family member
Source: State Budget Act 2026
If the income per family member is between BGN 760 (2025) / BGN 811 (2026) and the upper threshold of about BGN 860 (2025) / ~BGN 920 (2026), you receive 80% of the allowances. Above the upper threshold you have no entitlement.
Who is entitled to child allowances?
To receive child allowances, you must meet several conditions at the same time. Here are the main requirements:
Conditions for receiving them
Average monthly income per family member below the threshold
BGN 760 for 2025, BGN 811 for 2026
The child regularly attends kindergarten or school
Up to 5 unexcused absences are allowed
All compulsory immunisations have been done
According to the immunisation calendar
The child has not been placed outside the family
Not in an institution or a foster family
The parent has not been deprived of parental rights
No income test
Some categories of children receive allowances without an income test: orphans, children in foster families, children of single adopters and children raised by relatives under a court decision. For them the entitlement does not depend on the family’s income.
How is income for child allowances calculated?
Income is calculated for the last 12 months before the application is submitted. All gross income of all family members is included.
Calculating income step by step
Add up all income for 12 months
Salaries, fees, rents, pensions and benefits of all members
Divide by 12
You get the average monthly total family income
Divide by the number of family members
Parents + children = total number of members
Compare with the threshold
Under BGN 811 (2026) = 100%. Between BGN 811 and ~BGN 920 = 80%
A practical example
A family with two parents and two children (4 people). One parent earns BGN 1,500 gross, the other BGN 1,200 gross a month. There is no other income.
Total monthly income: 1,500 + 1,200 = BGN 2,700
Per family member: 2,700 / 4 = BGN 675
Threshold for 2026: BGN 811
Result: BGN 675 < BGN 811. The family is entitled to the full amount: BGN 110 a month for the two children.
Ask Pravko and get an answer with citations from the law.
14 days to notify
If your income changes (a new job, a raise, loss of work), you must notify the Social Assistance Directorate (Дирекция „Социално подпомагане“, ДСП) within 14 days. If you miss the deadline, you may be asked to repay amounts you received unlawfully.
Documents you need
To apply for child allowances, prepare the following documents:
Documents for the application
Application-declaration on the standard form*
Obtained from the ДСП or downloaded online
Certificate of gross income (last 12 months)*
From the employer of each working member
Note from the personal doctor (личен лекар) confirming the immunisations done*
Certificate from the kindergarten or school*
For regular attendance
Divorce decision or guardianship document
Only in special cases
* Mandatory documents
How to apply: step by step
The application process
Gather the documents
Prepare all the documents from the list above
In person at the Social Assistance Directorate, by post, or online with a qualified electronic signature (КЕП)
Wait for the decision
The ДСП reviews the application and issues an order granting or refusing the allowance
Receive the allowances every month
By bank transfer or postal money order, by the end of the following month
Implementing Regulations of the Family Allowances for Children Act (ППЗСПД)
Art. 17-19
The procedure for submitting the application, the documents required and the deadlines for review
When are child allowances paid?
The allowances are paid monthly, by the end of the month following the month they relate to. For example, the allowance for March is received by the end of April.
By the end of the following month
Payment of the monthly allowances
The allowance for December is paid by 31 January of the following year.
The money is transferred to the bank account you gave in the application, or received by postal money order.
Child allowances with a ТЕЛК decision
Children with permanent disabilities, certified by a decision of the Territorial Expert Medical Commission (ТЕЛК), receive considerably higher monthly allowances and no income test applies. The amount depends on the percentage of reduced working capacity:
Monthly allowances for children with disabilities
90% and over 90% reduced working capacity
€604
BGN 1,180
70-90% reduced working capacity
€292
BGN 570
50-70% reduced working capacity
€231
BGN 450
Paid until the age of 18 (or 20 if the child is studying). No income test is required.
Other benefits for children
Besides the monthly child allowances, there are other forms of financial support for families with children:
One-off and additional benefits
One-off benefit at the birth of the first child
BGN 375
One-off benefit at the birth of the second child
BGN 900
One-off benefit at the birth of the third child
BGN 450
One-off benefit at the birth of a fourth or later child
BGN 300
Benefit for schoolchildren (grades I, II, III, IV and VIII)
One-off, at enrolment
BGN 300
Benefit during pregnancy without entitlement to maternity benefit
Monthly, 45 days before the birth
BGN 225
The amounts are for 2025/2026. The one-off birth benefits do not depend on income.
Do not forget the tax reliefs for children when you file your annual tax return: BGN 6,000 for one child, BGN 12,000 for two children, BGN 18,000 for three or more.
Frequently asked questions
Is social assistance counted as income?
No. Monthly benefits under the ЗСПД, one-off benefits and targeted heating benefits are not included when calculating income for child allowances.
What happens if income exceeds the threshold?
If your income exceeds the basic threshold (BGN 811 for 2026) but is below the upper threshold (~BGN 920), you receive 80% of the allowances. If it exceeds the upper threshold as well, your entitlement ends from the following month. You must notify the ДСП within 14 days.
Can grandparents apply?
Yes, if the care of the child has been granted to them by a court decision. Guardians (настойници) and curators (попечители) are also entitled to submit an application.
What is the processing time for the application?
The Social Assistance Directorate has 20 working days to review the application and issue an order. If an additional check is needed, the period may be extended.
Can you apply online?
Yes, through the egov.bg portal with a qualified electronic signature (КЕП). You can also submit the application in person at the nearest Social Assistance Directorate or by post with an acknowledgement of receipt (обратна разписка).
Family Allowances for Children Act (ЗСПД)
Art. 7, Art. 8, Art. 8а
Official Bulgarian text
„Месечни помощи за деца до завършване на средно образование, но не повече от 20-годишна възраст, се предоставят на семейства, чийто средномесечен доход на член от семейството е по-нисък или равен на дохода, определен за целта в закона за държавния бюджет.“
⚠️ Important
Pravko provides legal information, but it does not replace advice from a lawyer. For important legal matters, consult a licensed lawyer.
