Child benefits in Wallonia 2026 — amounts & FAMIWAL

Since regionalisation, it is Wallonia and its public fund FAMIWAL that manage your child benefits. Here are the 2026 amounts, the well-known born before/after 2020 distinction, and how to apply — explained simply.

💡 Before reading this page

This article only covers Wallonia. If you live elsewhere or want the overview, check the Belgium guide, the benefits in Brussels or in Flanders. It is your region of residence that determines the applicable scheme, not your place of work.

The Walloon scheme: AViQ, FAMIWAL and the private funds

Since the 6th state reform, child benefits are no longer federal: each region manages its own system. In Wallonia, the AViQ (Agence pour une Vie de Qualité) steers the policy, and several child benefit funds actually pay the money into your account.

You have a choice between:

🏛️
FAMIWAL — the Walloon public fund This is the default fund. If you make no choice, it takes over your file. Free service, like all funds.
🏢
The approved private funds Several private funds approved by AViQ pay exactly the same amounts. The service is free everywhere: you never pay your fund, and switching funds does not change a single euro of what you receive.
🔑 Keep in mind

The amount of the benefits is set by Walloon regulations: it is identical regardless of the fund. The fund only manages your file and pays. The only selection criterion is the quality of service and proximity.

The base amount in 2026

In Wallonia, the base amount per child is around €167.68/month. That is the floor, to which supplements (social, single-parent, disability) may be added depending on your situation.

📊 Wallonia benchmarks 2026
Benefit Indicative amount 2026
Base amount (per child, per month) ≈ €167.68
Birth grant — 1st child €1,214.94
Birth grant — subsequent child €605.22
Social supplements (income-based) on top, see below

⚠️ Indicative amounts 2026 — check with FAMIWAL or your fund. The scales are indexed and depend on the age, rank and situation of the child.

Born before or after 1 January 2020: the big distinction

This is the point that confuses everyone. The Walloon reform changed the logic on 1 January 2020, and today two systems coexist depending on the child's date of birth.

📅 Children born before 1 January 2020

They stay in the old rank-based system: the 2nd and 3rd child gave entitlement to higher amounts than the 1st. These children broadly keep this historical mechanism, with age supplements under the old rules.

📅 Children born from 1 January 2020

They fall under the new "age-based" scheme: an identical base amount for each child (≈ €167.68/month), without a rank bonus, but with age supplements that rise as the child grows.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 In plain terms, for a family with several children

If you have an eldest born in 2018 and a youngest born in 2022, your two children may be calculated under two different logics: the eldest "the old way" (rank), the youngest "under the new scheme" (age). That is normal — your fund automatically applies the right rule for each. You have nothing to calculate yourself.

The birth grant

At each birth (or adoption), you receive a birth grant paid once. In Wallonia in 2026:

🍼
€1,214.94 for the 1st child You can apply from the 6th month of pregnancy, and it is paid from 2 months before the expected delivery date.
🍼
€605.22 for each subsequent child The amount is reduced for subsequent births, but is still paid for each child.

For the overview of the three regions and the steps, see our page on the birth grant in Belgium.

The supplements: social, single-parent, disability

Beyond the base amount, Wallonia provides supplements to give more support to certain families.

Social supplements (income-based)

Families on more modest incomes receive a social supplement on top of the base amount. The order of magnitude of the ceiling to be eligible is around €3,210/month net for the household (a higher ceiling exists for large families). The lower your income, the larger the supplement.

Single-parent supplement

If you raise your child or children alone, a single-parent supplement may be added, subject to income conditions. It reinforces the social supplement.

Supplement for a child with a disability

A child with a recognised condition or disability gives entitlement to a specific supplement, the amount of which depends on the medically assessed degree of severity. This supplement is added to the others and is not subject to the same income conditions as the social supplement.

⚠️ Indicative amounts 2026 — check with FAMIWAL or your fund. The income ceilings and the supplement amounts are indexed and assessed case by case.

Applying & switching fund

1
Choose (or leave) your fund You can choose FAMIWAL or an approved private fund. If you do not choose, FAMIWAL takes over your file by default. The service is free in all cases.
2
Submit your application For the birth grant, do it during pregnancy. For the monthly amount, the fund usually opens the file automatically after the birth, but always check that everything is correctly registered.
3
Report any change of situation Moving home (especially to or from another region), a new birth, a change of custody, a change of income: all of this can affect the amount. Notify your fund.
4
Switch fund, if you wish You can switch fund once a year (on 1 January), via a simple procedure. As the amounts are identical everywhere, you only switch for the quality of service. No interruption of payment.
✅ Our practical advice

Don't get stuck on the choice of fund: the amounts are the same everywhere. What matters is to apply for the birth grant in time (from the 6th month of pregnancy) and to report every change of situation so as not to lose a supplement you are entitled to.

Frequently asked questions

I work in Brussels but live in Wallonia: which scheme?

Your region of residence is what counts. If you live in Wallonia, the Walloon scheme (FAMIWAL/AViQ) applies, regardless of where you work.

My children don't get the same amount, is that normal?

Yes. Depending on whether they were born before or after 1 January 2020, and on their age, the calculation differs. Your fund applies the right rule for each.

Will switching fund reduce my benefits?

No, never. The amounts are set by Walloon regulations and are identical regardless of the fund. Payment is not interrupted when switching.

Up to what age does the child receive benefits?

Generally, up to the age of majority, then extended for young people in studies or training under certain conditions. Check the exact conditions with your fund.