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An overview of the main family benefits paid by the Caisse pour l'avenir des enfants: child allowance, back-to-school allowance, birth allowance, parental leave and leave for family reasons.
Luxembourg has a comprehensive system of family benefits, managed mainly by the Caisse pour l'avenir des enfants (CAE). Both residents and cross-border workers may be entitled to them. Amounts are indexed to the cost of living: always check the figures in force on the CAE website or on guichet.public.lu.
| Benefit | For whom? | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| Allowance for the future of children (family allowance) | Each child up to 18 (up to 25 if studying) | Single monthly amount per child, indexed; age supplements at 6 and 12 |
| Back-to-school allowance | Schoolchildren from age 6 | Paid automatically in August, higher amount from age 12 |
| Birth allowance | Parents of a newborn | Three instalments (prenatal, birth, postnatal), linked to medical check-ups |
| Special supplementary allowance | Children with a disability | Paid on top of the family allowance |
| Parental leave | Employed or self-employed insured parents | Income-replacement benefit, several formats (full-time, part-time, split) |
| Leave for family reasons | Parents of a sick child | Days per child by age bracket: 0 to under 4, 4 to under 13, and in case of hospitalisation from 13 to 18 |
First, report any change (moving house, separation, a child finishing studies) to the CAE to avoid repayments. Second, if one parent works in another EU country, coordination rules determine which State pays first: check before filing applications. Third, keep medical certificates and acknowledgements of receipt: they serve as proof in case of dispute.
Other bodies complete the system: the Fonds national de solidarité pays the cost-of-living allowance to low-income households, the State subsidises childcare through the chèque-service accueil, and secondary-school pupils can obtain study grants and loans. Communal social offices, finally, help families through temporary difficulties. An appointment with the social office or a look at guichet.public.lu often reveals rights people did not know they had.
