Romania's state child allowance: how to get it and how much it is
In short
The state allowance is due to every child in Romania, with no parental income conditions, from birth to 18 — and beyond, while attending high school or vocational school. In 2026 the amount is 719 lei/month for children under 2 (and for children with disabilities up to 18) and 292 lei/month for children between 2 and 18, indexation being suspended by Law 141/2025. The application is filed at the town hall or AJPIS, and payment is monthly, into a bank account or by postal order.
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The state allowance is Romania’s only truly universal child benefit: it does not depend on family income, contributions or the parents’ status — every child living in Romania is entitled to it, from birth to adulthood (and beyond, while in school). The procedure is simple, and in more and more places the application is filed together with the newborn’s paperwork.
The 2026 amounts — and why they did not increase
By law, the allowance is indexed annually to inflation. For 2025 and 2026, however, automatic indexation was suspended through the fiscal-budgetary measures (Law 141/2025), so the amounts stay at the December 2025 level: 719 lei for the youngest (under 2) and for children with disabilities, 292 lei for children aged 2–18. Watch the official sources for changes — this guide reflects the values at its update date.
A detail that saves trips
In most maternity wards and civil status services, a newborn’s formalities can be done as a bundle: the birth certificate, the state allowance and, if applicable, the file for the child-raising benefit. Ask at the birth registration which applications you can file on the spot.
Steps to follow
- Fill in the standard application. The standard form (application for the state allowance) is available at the town hall, at AJPIS or on their websites. The allowance is paid to one of the parents, based on their mutual agreement.
- Attach the child's and parents' documents. The child's birth certificate, the parents' identity documents and a bank statement if you want payment into an account. For children born abroad, the transcribed civil status documents are added.
- Submit the file. At your local town hall (which forwards it to AJPIS) or directly at the county agency for payments and social inspection. In many maternity wards and civil status offices, the application can be filed together with the birth registration — ask there and save a trip.
- Receive the decision and the monthly payment. The right is established by an AJPIS decision, and payment is monthly. The allowance runs from the month after the child's birth, and applications filed within 12 months of the birth receive the amounts retroactively from that point.
Required documents
- Standard application for the state allowance
- The child's birth certificate (copy and original for verification)
- The parents' identity documents
- Bank statement in the applicant's name — for payment into an account
- As applicable: the disability certificate, foster placement or guardianship documents, school certificate for youngsters over 18
Costs
| What you pay | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Filing the application | Free | — |
| Allowance for children under 2 (under 3, for children with disabilities) | 719 lei/month | The December 2025 level, kept through 2026 (indexation suspended by Law 141/2025) |
| Allowance for children between 2 and 18 | 292 lei/month | Also granted past 18, through high school/vocational school |
| Allowance for children with disabilities (3–18) | 719 lei/month | Increased amount for the whole period |
Fees change over time. Always check the current amounts on the official websites listed under “Official sources”.
How long it takes
The right is established by AJPIS decision after filing, and payments settle into a monthly rhythm. The allowance runs from the month after birth; filing within the first 12 months brings the retroactive amounts too.
Frequently asked questions
From when is the allowance granted?
From the month following the child's birth. If the application is filed within 12 months of the birth, you receive all amounts retroactively from that point; filed later, the allowance is granted only from the application date.
What happens after the child turns 18?
The allowance continues through high school or vocational studies, until completion, based on the school certificate — but stops if the youngster repeats a year for imputable reasons. University students do not receive the state allowance.
How do I change the bank account or payment method?
File a modification request with AJPIS (many agencies accept it by e-mail), with the new bank statement. The change applies from the month after processing.
Who receives the allowance if the parents are divorced?
It is paid to the parent the child permanently lives with, per the divorce decision or the parents' agreement. In case of dispute, the court decides; the allowance belongs to the child, not the parent.
My child was born abroad — does he get the Romanian allowance?
Yes, if he lives in Romania with his parents, after the birth certificate is transcribed into the Romanian registers. Mind the EU rules: if the family already receives a similar benefit in another EU state, coordination rules apply — the difference is paid, not both in full.