In order to provide more support for families with children, the amount of several State social benefits will increase in 2026. This is stipulated by the amendments to laws adopted by the Saeima in the final reading on Wednesday, 3 December. The amendments are linked with the State budget for 2026 and the medium-term three-year budget framework.
Chair of the Budget and Finance (Taxation) Committee Anda Čakša, who oversaw the advancement of the draft laws in the Saeima, stated during the debate: “Significantly increasing state support for families with children is the correct strategic decision and one of the clear steps in addressing demographic challenges.”
Amendments to the Law on State Social Allowances stipulate that, going forward, the childcare benefit will be paid until the child reaches 1.5 years of age instead of the current age of two years. The amount of monthly childcare benefit shall rise from EUR 171 to EUR 298 for a child up to one and a half years of age. For children born before 2 November 2026, parents will continue receiving the benefit until the child reaches two years of age.
The amendments also concern the State family allowance for children who are attending school. The benefit for a child aged 16 to 20 will also be available if the child is studying full-time at a college or university and is not married. Thus, benefit payments will be reinstated for parents of university or college students, and the benefit will be paid until the student reaches 20 years of age. Until now, the benefit was paid for children attending secondary or vocational school.
From 2026, the one-time childbirth allowance will also increase from EUR 421.17 to EUR 600. Guardians will also receive a higher monthly allowance for the maintenance of a child under guardianship: EUR 390 instead of EUR 215 for a child under seven years old, and EUR 468 instead of EUR 258 for a child aged seven to eighteen.
Monthly remuneration for the care of an adopted child will also increase, reaching EUR 1041 in 2026. This amount equals 70% of the national average wage subject to State social insurance contributions. If remuneration has already been granted in 2025 and will also be paid in 2026, the amount shall be up to EUR 956 per month. Until now, the minimum monthly remuneration was EUR 171.
Remuneration for the fulfilment of a guardian's duties will also increase. In 2026 it will be EUR 298 per month instead of EUR 54.07. Amendments to the Law on State Social Insurance also stipulate that mandatory contributions to provide pension, unemployment, and disability insurance will be paid from the general State budget for guardians who are not employed.
Monthly remuneration for the care of an adopted child will also increase: from 2026, it will be EUR 195 instead of EUR 107.5 for adopted a child up to seven years of age, and EUR 234 instead of EUR 129 for adopting a child seven to eighteen years of age. The one-time allowance for adoption of a child will also rise in 2026 from EUR 1422.87 to EUR 2433.
Amendments to the Law on Maternity and Sickness Insurance stipulate that next year, the parental benefit for working parents will remain at its current level, namely, 75% of the previously granted amount.
In order to improve the measures aimed to provide material support for families with children, EUR 42 million of additional funding is allocated in the 2026 budget, while additional support measures for children in out-of-family care will be EUR 24.1 million.
The amendments to the benefit system will come into force on 1 January 2026.
Saeima Press Service