What we need to know about child support up to the age of 4: Should we ask again? What conditions are required?

The aid for children up to the age of 3 that has been offered so far will be extended to those up to the age of 4 and will be available from tomorrow, according to the Department of Welfare, Youth and Demographic Challenges of the Basque Government, which has indicated that the aid, as hitherto, will be EUR 200 and will be retroactive from 1 January 2026.

Families will be able to process their applications from 2 July through the website www. Euskadi.eus Two channels have been set up to resolve doubts: umeak@euskadi.eus and 945 01 80 00.

Main developments

As explained by the Department of Welfare, Youth and Demographic Challenge of the Basque Government, this extension of one year is the main result of this aid, which is granted today from the time of birth to the age of three years, but which will be grantedby the new decree until the age of four.

On the other hand, aid of EUR 100 per month will be granted to large families with children between the ages of 4 and 7. Until now, this aid was received from the third child betweenthe ages of 3 and 7.

The same shall apply to single-parent families with children between the ages of 4 and 7.

In addition, they will also be entitled to assistance of EUR 100 and 200 per month for foster families and for the care of minors under guardianship. There are currently 621 foster families in the Basque Country.

What conditions must be met?

In order to apply for assistance, two main requirements must be met: on the one hand, the applicant must reside and be registered in the Basque Country in the same domicile as the minor, and must be at least one year old in the register or five years old in the last ten years.

On the other hand, he shall live with and be in custody of the minor during the period during which the assistance shall be received.

How will retroactivity be managed?

The measure will have effects from 1 January 2026, which means that it will not affect all families in the same way.

• If the daughter turned three on August 12, 2025, the family will receive new support from January to July 2026.
• If the son turned 3 on January 12, 2026, the family will receive assistance from January 2026 to December 2027.
• If the daughter reached the age of 4 on January 12, 2026, the family will not receive any new support, as the aid ends the month before the child turns 4.
• If the son turned 4 on February 12, 2026, the family will receive assistance from January 2026.

The request will have to be repeated.

In order to qualify for the aid, all families must submit a new application, and the extension will not apply automatically.

Therefore, families who had completed 0-3 years of aid on 1 January 2026 — or had never received it — will have to apply again for an extension of up to four years.

If the application is submitted before 31 December 2026, the aid shall be recognized with effect from 1 January 2026 or from the appropriate date.

85.8 million euros in four years

With the new decree, which entered into force on Wednesday, the Basque Government has taken a further step towards helping families to meet the costs of raising their children.

To extend the aid, it will allocate EUR 85.8 million over the next four years, with a payment credit of EUR 33.8 million this year.

In addition, the Department of Welfare, Youth and Demographic Challenge has developed thousands of guides for families explaining how to apply and what aspects should be taken into account.

Paper guides will be distributed in haurreskolas, primary schools, paediatric services in health centres, ludotecs and Zuzenean offices (Bilbao, San Sebastián and Vitoria).

The digital version will be available on the department's website, as well as an information campaign in the media and social media.