Family benefits and childcare in Denmark

Families in Denmark get a tax-free child benefit for every child, extra allowances in some situations, and subsidised public daycare. Udbetaling Danmark pays the cash benefits. Your municipality runs daycare and sets its prices, so costs differ from place to place. Parental leave is covered in the parental section.

Child and youth benefit (børne- og ungeydelse)

• Paid for each child under 18 who lives in Denmark, if you live in Denmark and are fully liable to tax here. It is tax-free.
• Amounts for 2026: DKK 5,370 a quarter for ages 0–2, DKK 4,248 for ages 3–6 and DKK 3,342 for ages 7–14 (child benefit, paid quarterly in advance). For ages 15–17 it is DKK 1,114 a month (youth benefit, paid monthly in arrears).
• Parents who live together get half each. Your half is reduced if your own income is above DKK 961,100 (2026).
• Earning period: you get the full benefit when you have lived or worked in Denmark (or Greenland or the Faroe Islands) for 6 of the last 10 years. Before that you get a share, for example 50% after 3 years. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can count periods from other member states.

Child allowance (børnetilskud)

Extra allowances are paid in special situations: to single parents (an ordinary and an extra allowance), for twins or more, to parents who are pensioners or students, and when a parent is dead or the father is unknown. Single parents must confirm once a year that they are still single.

Daycare (dagtilbud)

• Places: childminders (dagpleje), nurseries (vuggestue) and kindergartens (børnehave). The municipality must offer a place from age 26 weeks until school starts (childcare guarantee, pasningsgaranti). If you apply in other situations, it must offer a place within 3 months.
• Price: the municipality pays at least 75% of the cost, so parents pay at most 25%. Each municipality publishes its rates every year.
• Reduced fees: with a household income of up to DKK 218,101 a year (2026) the place is free (økonomisk fripladstilskud). Between DKK 218,101 and DKK 677,499 you get a partial reduction. The limit rises by DKK 7,000 for each extra child at home and by DKK 76,317 for single parents (2026).
• Siblings: you pay full price for the most expensive place and half price for the others (søskendetilskud).

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• Child benefit may not be paid in full at first. Until you have 6 years of residence or work in the last 10, you get only a share.
• Tell Udbetaling Danmark about changes, such as moving abroad or a change in custody. Otherwise you may have to pay money back.
• Put your child on the municipality's daycare list early, and check the local rules for when you can sign up.
• Apply to the municipality for a reduced daycare fee (fripladstilskud) yourself; it is not given automatically.

Official guidance: borger.dk: child and youth benefit, lifeindenmark.dk: child and youth benefits, borger.dk: rules for daycare, borger.dk: fee reductions