My child is a school-leaver in search of employment

Your child is required to register with Actiris as a job-seeking school-leaver after completing their education, even if they already have job prospects.

As a school-leaver in search of employment, your child retains the right to child benefits for a maximum of 360 days. They can work up to 240 hours per quarter without losing the right to child benefit.

After these 360 days, their right to child benefit stops. If your child was registered as a job-seeking school-leaver, they may then be entitled to unemployment benefits through the union or the auxiliary fund for unemployment benefits (CAPAC).

Once your child has registered as a job-seeking school leaver, they are entitled to child benefits for a maximum of 360 days if they:

• are registered with the employment service Actiris
• are under 25 years old
• are no longer subject to compulsory education
• are not voluntarily unemployed
• do not work more than 240 hours per quarter

• On August 1 after a full school or academic year,
• The day after the interruption of the studies (or the reduction of the required number of class hours or credits),
• The day after the end of the second examination period,
• The day after submitting the final thesis,
• The day after the end of the apprenticeship contract.

Note that if the young person stops studying in the year of their eighteenth birthday, the 360-day period begins:

• The day after their birthday, if the young person turns 18 before June 30 and stops studying before their birthday,
• The day after the interruption of the studies, if the young person turns 18 before June 30 and stops studying after their birthday (and before June 30),
• From August 1 if the young person turns 18 after June 30.

If your child registers late with Actiris, the entitlement period for child benefits for a job-seeking school-leaver starts from the registration date. The entitlement period ends 360 days after the mandatory registration date. Your child then loses the right to child benefits for the period they were not registered.

During the entitlement period for child benefits, the young person retains the child benefits, provided they do not work more than 240 hours per quarter.

In that case the child benefits are suspended for that quarter. The payment of child benefits can be resumed if the entitlement period is still ongoing and the young person either stops working or works no more than 240 hours per quarter.

Let us know as soon as possible to avoid any surprises.

If your child does not register as a job-seeking school leaver, they are entitled to child benefits until:

• The end of the month in which they stop attending classes,
• The end of the last month in which they have holidays (provided they attended classes until the end of the school year). In secondary or non-higher education, this holiday period lasts until August 31, and in higher education until September 30.

If your child lives in Brussels, they must register with Actiris. This can be done by making an appointment at one of their offices or via the Actiris website.

At the time of registration, a professional integration period of 12 months (360 days) begins. During this period, the you person can work up to 240 hours per quarter while retaining child benefits.

After this professional integration period, the young person receives professional integration benefits, and the right to child benefits ends.

If you have any questions, please contact us.