Child benefits and child support

Child benefits

Child benefits ( Barnabætur ) in Iceland are paid with every child under the age of 18 years, domiciled in Iceland and dependent on a person or persons who have an unlimited tax liability in Iceland. Child benefits can be paid with children that are not domiciled in Iceland, but are dependent on a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA), member state of the EFTA or the Faroe Islands, provided that the child's supporter is tax liable in Iceland

The child benefits are income related and calculations are based on both parents / supporters' total income for the previous year. In the case of a single parent, only the income of that parent is used in the calculations. The child benefits are paid to the child's supporter, i.e. the person that the child is living with and is dependent upon. The person that pays child support is not regarded the child's supporter in this context.

A special supplement, which also is income related, is paid with children under 7 years of age.

For more information regarding child benefits in Iceland, click here.

Child support

Child support ( Meðlag ) in Iceland is paid until a child is 18 and is generally conditioned on the child's residence in Iceland.

Child support payments are not deemed to be Social Insurance benefits, but rather the Social Insurance Administration ( Tryggingarstofnun ) acts solely as a liaison for their payment. The Municipal Child Support Collection Centre sees to collecting payments from child support payers and reimbursing the Social Insurance Administration.

Child support is paid in accordance with a ruling by the District Commissioner or an agreement confirmed by District Commissioner regarding child support payments and also a judgement or court settlement regarding child support payments.

If an applicant for child support is moving to Iceland, child support payments from the former country of residence must be confirmed, and a copy of the child support ruling must also accompany the application.

For more information regarding child support in Iceland, click here.