Last year, NAV pulled back 17. decisions on entitlement to family allowance. In most cases, the reason was that the child had left Norway. It is about 7 thousand. more than in 2016, when the criteria for allowing the child to stay outside Norwegian borders changed.
Change of regulations
In 2016, the regulations governing the principles of granting family benefits were amended. Until now, a child could stay outside Norway for up to six months. These criteria are now more stringent and the time has been shortened to four months. This change is directly related to bigger number withdrawn decisions and suspension of payment of these benefits. The vast majority of them were immigrant families.
What is happening to the children?
It is not entirely known why the children leave Norway, because NAV does not keep documentation to verify these reasons. However, it is assumed that they are sent to Koranic schools or the so-called "correction centers". However, due to the fact that not only immigrant families from outside the EU have lost the right to family benefits, it is possible that this problem also affects Polish families. This could be due to, for example, obtaining the right to family allowance in your home country, which is automatic causes its loss in Norway.
Check out how the social welfare system works in Norway.
NAV withheld payment of family benefits, who is entitled to this benefit?
Family allowance is available to families who raise children up to 18 years of age. The basic conditions include the parent's membership in the Norwegian health care system and the achievement of income covered by contributions to the Norwegian health care system social security in Norway and the fact that the child resides in this country. It is worth knowing that if the applicant is a lonely person raising a child may apply for extended family allowance, and if the child is up to 2 years old, he/she has the right to additionally apply for care allowance.
NAV suspended payment of family benefits. Exceptions
However, the regulations provide for a number of exclusions for the child's obligation to stay in Norway. They concern, among others: Poles, as well as all citizens of the country belonging to European Economic Area. There is an exception for them, which abolishes the obligation for the child to stay in Norway. They are entitled to family allowance even if one parent and the child stay in their home country. It is worth noting that this privilege is not available to people from many other countries European Union and for this reason the problem of decision suspension concerns mainly these immigrant groups.
