Applications have opened for the Basque Country’s expanded child benefit, which pays €200 per month for every child under the age of four. Eligible families can claim payments retroactively from January 1, 2026, reaching back to the start of the year.
The €200 monthly payment totals €2,400 a year for each eligible child. The Basque Government’s programme is a regional benefit administered by the Gobierno Vasco, not a nationwide Spanish payment. Independent fact-checking by Expertus has clarified how this scheme differs from Spain’s national child-related support.
A recognized disability of at least 33% or a recognized dependency situation can double the Basque payment. The expanded age coverage continues through a child’s fourth birthday, adding another year of support during early childhood.
Eligibility and Application
Applicants must live in Euskadi, be officially registered there, and share an address with the child. The rules require at least one year of residency or, alternatively, five years of registration within the past decade. Families must also retain custody and live with the child throughout the period covered by their claim.
The Basque Government has clarified that families who previously used up the benefit when their child turned three, as well as those who never applied, must submit a new application to access the extended support. The process is not automatic. Applications can be filed through the Basque Government’s online portal. For help, the Department of Welfare, Youth and Demographic Challenge has set up the email umeak@euskadi.eus and the helpline 945 01 80 00.
Additional Support for Families
Alongside the basic benefit, the decree introduces a new €100 monthly payment for families with children aged 4 to 7. It targets large families and single-parent households, including single-mother households, which often face added financial pressures. Encourage and guardianship families can also receive both the €200 and €100 monthly payments. Official figures show that 621 encourage families in Euskadi will benefit from the changes.
The Basque payment is separate from Spain’s Complemento de Ayuda para la Infancia (CAPI), which is integrated into the Ingreso Mínimo Critical and administered by the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS). In 2026, CAPI pays €115 per month for children under three, or €1,380 a year. It is not a nationwide €200 monthly benefit. The distinction matters to families comparing regional and national support: the Basque scheme is administered separately and applies to eligible Euskadi residents.
The government will distribute guides through nurseries and basic schools, as well as pediatric clinics and play centers. Zuzenean offices in Bilbao and Donostia will also receive them, with guides available in Vitoria-Gasteiz too. Digital versions will be posted on the department’s website.
Retroactive Payments and Funding
Families who meet the criteria can receive back payments from January 2026. The Basque Government has allocated €85.8 million over the next four years for the expanded programme, including €33.8 million earmarked for 2026 alone.
The initiative is part of a broader trend in Spain to strengthen family support systems. Spain’s tax authority, for example, recently refunded more than €6.4 billion to pensioners who contributed to historic labor mutual funds, as detailed in this report on major pension refunds.
By extending its child and family benefits, the Basque Government aims to ease the burden on parents and encourage higher birth rates. The changes also recognize the developing makeup of modern families.
