English

The cash-for-care benefits are to contribute to family-based care for children. You can choose whether to care for the child full time, or the extent to which the care of the child is entrusted to others (independently of how this childcare is arranged).

Who can receive cash-for-care benefits?

If you have a child between the ages of one and three who does not attend a day-care centre that receives public subsidies, you can receive full cash-for-care benefits. If the child attends a day-care centre part-time, you can receive graduated cash-for-care benefits. The maximum benefit period is 23 months.

For adopted children, you can receive cash-for-care benefits for up to 23 months after the benefit period for full parental benefits on adoption has expired. This applies even if the child has turned or will turn three years old during this period, provided the child has not started school.

You cannot receive cash-for-care benefits

• for children who are in foster care or institutionalised in accordance with the Child Welfare Act.
• at the same time as you receive full parental benefits on adoption In such cases, you can receive cash-for-care benefits at the earliest from the month after the period of full parental benefits expires. This time limit also applies if you receive a lump-sum grant rather than parental benefits on adoption

If you move abroad

As a rule the child must be resident in Norway. A child is deemed resident in Norway if she/he lives or is going to live in Norway for more than 12 months.

In some cases, you may be entitled to receive cash-for-care benefits for temporary stays abroad that last for a maximum of three months.

If you live in an EEA country other than Norway and receive a pension from Norway or have been sent abroad by a Norwegian employer, you can, pursuant to applicable requirements, retain the cash-for-care benefits while abroad. Read more about child benefits while abroad under the heading "International" in the menu on the right.

If you have moved to Norway

When you work in Norway, on a Norwegian ship or on the Norwegian continental shelf, you may be entitled to receive cash-for-care benefits for children resident in another EEA country. You can find more information about child benefits and cash-for-care benefits for foreign workers in Norway under the "International" heading in the menu on the right.

How much will you receive?

The time allotted to your child in a day-care centre determines how much you receive in cash-for-care benefits. If the child spends less time in the day-care centre than their allotted time, this does not impact the calculation of your cash-for-care benefits.

Cash-for-care benefits are not subject to taxation.

It is important that you notify us if the child starts attending a day-care centre. You must repay any cash-for-care benefits paid in error.

How to apply for cash-for-care benefits

If the parents live together, only one parent needs to apply. If the parents live apart, the parent with whom the child primarily lives is entitled to apply for cash-for-care benefits. You cannot receive cash-for-care benefits paid in arrears for more than three months prior to the month in which you applied for the benefits. 

If you have entered a written agreement about a dual domicile for the child in accordance with § 36 of the Children Act, you can split the cash-for-care benefits, provided you both agree to this split. In such cases, neither of the parents may use a publicly subsidised day-care centre, and you must both apply for cash-for-care benefits.

Apply using the form "Krav om kontanstøtte til småbarnsforeldre" ("Claim for cash-for-care benefits for the parents of toddlers"); form NAV 34-00.08". This form can be found under "Forms" in the menu on the right.

When you select a form, you are automatically taken to a guide to completing the form. Here you must indicate which enclosures and what sort of documentation you must submit with your application. A cover page will also be generated. To help the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) process your application quickly and efficiently, please submit the information given on this cover page. Please enclose the cover page at the front of your letter

Decision

When the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) receive your application, you will be notified of the expected processing time. You will be notified of our decision when your application has been processed.

Most of the main information about your entitlements and duties is available here in English. There are also links to other more detailed information; however, some of this information is only available in Norwegian.

Report changes

Changes in your income, family situation and/or work situation may affect the payment you receive from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. Stays abroad may also affect your payment.  You must therefore immediately report any such changes to your local NAV office.