Education requirements for children aged 16 or 17

The rules for child benefit for children aged 16 and 17 are different from the rules for children under the age of 16. To qualify for child benefit for a child aged 16 or 17, your child must:

  • follow a course of study or training, or
  • have a school-leaving qualification, or
  • be exempted from having to obtain a school-leaving qualification

These rules can be difficult to understand. We will try to explain them as clearly as possible.

Following a course of study or training

If your child is following a course of study or training in VMBO, HAVO, HBO, VWO or VAVO education, for example, or at MBO level 2 or higher, you may qualify for child benefit provided your child attends classes.

What do we mean by school-leaving qualification?

A school-leaving qualification is a HAVO or VWO diploma, or an MBO diploma at level 2 or higher. This includes diplomas awarded for completion of a block- or day-release programme (BBL) or a pre-vocational learning pathway (BOL).

To find out more, select the situation that applies to you.

Your child does not yet have a school-leaving qualification

If your child does not yet have a school-leaving qualification, you may qualify for child benefit as long as your child is in full-time education.

If your child is studying at MBO level and has a student travel product from the Education Executive Agency (DUO), this will not affect your entitlement to child benefit.

Your child already has a school-leaving qualification

You may still qualify for child benefit if your child already has a school-leaving qualification.

If your child gets a school-leaving qualification and then starts a new course of study or training, they may be able to apply for student finance from the Education Executive Agency (DUO). Student finance (studiefinanciering) helps with the costs of a course of study or training.

Your child has been granted an exemption from obtaining a school-leaving qualification

Your child may have an exemption because:

  • they have a diploma or testimonial from their training school and are following a suitable programme, or
  • they are in special education or have a mental or physical disability, or
  • they have been granted an exemption from Dutch compulsory education.

In these cases, your child is not required to obtain a school-leaving qualification. You may still qualify for child benefit for your child.

Your child is living outside the Netherlands

If your child lives outside the Netherlands, you may qualify for child benefit if your child:

  • is in full-time education
  • is studying for a qualification that will give them a good chance of finding skilled work
  • has completed their course of study or training and has obtained a qualification, or
  • cannot take part in education because of an illness or a disability

Your child can get student finance

If your child is following a course of study or training at MBO, HBO or university level, and they qualify for student finance, this will not affect your entitlement to child benefit.

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