The allowance is intended to be at least doubled. The Saeima has yet to decide on this.
The Ministry of Welfare (LM) said that the amount of the benefit for one child under the age of 20, is expected to be €25, for two children under the age of 20 - €100 (€50 for each), for three children under the age of 20 - €225 (€75 for each). For families with four or more children, €100 per child.
The amount of the state family benefit for the first child in the family is currently EUR 11.38 per month. For the second child in the family, it is EUR 22.76 per month and EUR 34.14 per month for the third child and more.
For example, if parents are raising three children, they are planned to receive a state family benefit of €225. Under the system currently in force, they receive €134.28 (including premiums that will no longer be paid in the new system). This means that in the new system, for a family with three children, the income will increase by EUR 90.72.
Welfare Minister Ramona Petraviča (faction of KPV LV) said that family benefits had not been changed since the “ times of lats” [the previous currency, which was changed to euros in 2014]. “My priority is families with children, who are Latvia's future. I am convinced that raising the benefit is also a step towards the goal of increasing birth rates,” the Minister said.
State family benefits (ģimenes valsts pabalsts) are granted to one of the parents or another person caring for and raising a child from age 1 to 15. If the child continues his or her studies and has not married, the benefits can be claimed until the child reaches 20 years of age. A supplement is currently paid for a disabled child under 18 years of age.
Changes in the arrangements and the amount of the grant are planned during the 2021 budget adoption process. The Saeima has yet to vote on the changes.
