Increase in child allowance in the Federation of BiH to 190 KM

(Patria) - With the adoption of the decision on the minimum wage in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2025, which now amounts to 1,000 KM, the child allowance also increases from the current 117 KM to 190 KM per child. In accordance with the Law on Material Support for Families with Children in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the child allowance amounts to 19% of the minimum wage, while the income threshold for entitlement to the allowance is set at 40% of the minimum wage per household member, which will now amount to 400 KM.

It is estimated that 395,000 children under the age of 18 live in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the latest official data, every second child in the Federation lives on the brink of poverty, while every fourth child lives below the poverty line.

During the previous year, the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy worked on amendments to the Law on Material Support for Families with Children in order to remove obstacles in its practical application. These amendments enabled children with malignant diseases and children with 100% disability of the first and second groups requiring care and assistance to be entitled to child allowance regardless of family income. Additionally, the restriction was lifted under which benefits based on personal disability allowance, care and assistance allowance, and permanent social assistance were included in the income threshold, thereby further relieving families with these incomes.

“We hope that the increase in child allowance contributes to supporting families, given that these amendments will enable a certain number of families to gain the right to child allowance due to the rise in the income threshold, and this simultaneously confirms our commitment to investing in children, because children are our greatest wealth. Investing in children is not a cost, but an investment in the future,” emphasized the Federal Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Adnan Delić.

In cooperation with UNICEF, the Ministry is working on a study that will analyze the possibilities of introducing a universal child allowance and differentiated pay grades, so that children from families with greater needs can exercise the right to higher amounts of the allowance, and ultimately all children receive a certain amount of child allowance.