Income-based subsidy
Income limits for the income-based subsidy 2025
- DKK 208,100 or less before tax per year: Childcare is fully subsidised, which means that the cost is fully covered by the municipality.
- DKK 208,101 to 646,499 before tax per year: Childcare is partly subsidised.
- DKK 646,500 or more before tax per year: Parents must pay for the full cost of childcare.
The income limit is raised by DKK 7,000 for each additional child younger than 18 years living at home. The income limit is raised by DKK 72,822 for single parents.
Income limits for the income-based subsidy 2024
- DKK 200,300 or less before tax per year: Childcare is fully subsidised, which means that the cost is fully covered by the municipality.
- DKK 200,300 to 622,199 before tax per year: Childcare is partly subsidised.
- DKK 622,200 or more before tax per year: Parents must pay for the full cost of childcare.
The income limit is raised by DKK 7,000 for each additional child younger than 18 years living at home. The income limit is raised by DKK 70,089 for single parents.
Apply for income-based subsidy
Opens a dialog.Income-based subsidy - Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
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Who are eligible for income-based subsidy?
You can get an income-based subsidy, if your child attends a public childcare service and the total household income is below DKK 646,500 in 2025.
If your child does not have an address in the City of Copenhagen, you must apply for income-based subsidy in the municipality where your child has an address.
How much can I get in income-based subsidy?
You can get an income-based subsidy if your child attends a public childcare service and the total household income is below DKK 646,500 before tax.
In 2024, the income limits for income-based subsidies are:
Household income up to and including DKK 200.300 before tax: full exemption.
Household income between DKK 200.300 and DKK 622.199 before tax: partial exemption.
Household income DKK 622.200 or more before tax: full parental payment.
For each child living at home under the age of 18 - in addition to the first child living at home - the income limits are increased by DKK 7.000. For single parents, the income limits are increased by DKK 70.089.
In 2025, the income limits for income-based subsidies are:
Household income up to and including DKK 208,100 before tax: full exemption. Household income between DKK 201,101 and DKK 646,499 before tax: partial exemption.
Household income DKK 646,500 or more before tax: full parental payment.
For each child living at home under the age of 18 - in addition to the first child living at home - the income limits are increased by DKK 7.000.
For single parents, the income limits are increased by DKK 72,822.
I receive income-based subsidy. Why am I being charged the full amount?
In most cases, this is because the invoice for the month in question was already generated before your income-based subsidy was granted. Please note that you will not receive a new payment slip.
You will automatically be adjusted for the missing subsidy on your next invoice. If you still have a credit balance after this adjustment, the amount will automatically be paid to your NemKonto, provided you do not otherwise owe money to the City of Copenhagen.
If you are unable to pay the full amount, you should contact The Finance & Payment Service Desk (Serviceindgang Finans & Betaling) at 70 80 70 10 to arrange a payment plan.
Is there an application deadline?
Forældrebetalingen can provide a income-based subsidy starting from the first day of the month following the receipt of your application.
You must apply no later than the last day of a month if you want the subsidy for the following month.
Example 1: If you apply on January 4th, you will receive the subsidy from February 1st. Example 2: If you apply on January 31st, you will receive the subsidy from February 1st.
Can I receive income-based subsidy in the middle of a month?
Yes, but only if your child starts in a childcare service on a date other than the 1st of a month, and it is the first time your child is enrolled in a childcare service.
When it is the first time your child is enrolled, you can receive the subsidy retroactively from the start date in the childcare service. The application must be received by Forældrebetalingen no later than 2 months from the enrolment date.
In all other cases, Forældrebetalingen will only grant the subsidy from the 1st of the month following the receipt of the application.
What should I do if my salary changes?
If it is a permanent change, we recommend that you submit a new application with the correct income. It will be effective from the 1st of the following month after the application has been submitted. Log in to Digital Pladsanvisning and apply via the "income-based subsidy" tab.
What happens to the subsidy if I move in with my partner or if we get married?
You must submit a new application for the income-based subsidy, as both of your incomes will be included in the calculation of the subsidy amount.
If you get married or move in with a partner and you already receive the subsidy as a single person, you will keep it for the rest of the month. However, if this happens on the 1st of the month, the change must be made from the last date of the previous month.
Please note that you need to submit a new application for the income-based subsidy as a married or cohabiting couple via Digital Pladsanvisning.
What happens to my subsidy if I become single?
If you become single, you have the option to apply for the subsidy as a single person.
If you become single and have had received a subsidy as a cohabiting/married couple before then, this will continue for the rest of the month.
You must submit a new application for the subsidy as a single person via Digital Pladsanvisning.
However, if the change occurs on the 1st of the month, it can be changed from the last date of the previous month. For this to apply, Forældrebetalingen must have received an application for the subsidy as a single person no later than by the last day of the previous month.
If you are married and have filed for divorce or separation, you must also submit documentation of this. Additionally, please note that both you and your former partner/spouse must withdraw your consent. This should also be done via Digital Pladsanvisning.
Do I have to apply for income-based subsidy again, if my child changes institution?
No, the subsidy follows your child and you, and you only have to apply for income-based subsidy again if there are changes in your family situation or if your total household income changes.
However, you will need to reapply for the subsidy if your child has been withdrawn between the change of institution.
Do I need to apply for the subsidy for each child?
No, the subsidy follows you. Forældrebetalingen will automatically extend the subsidy to the second child and beyond.
Can I receive the subsidy if my child will attend a private institution?
Yes, you must apply for the income-based subsidy as usual via Digital Pladsanvisning.
If you apply and are eligible for the subsidy, the City of Copenhagen will transfer the subsidy to the private institution, which will deduct the subsidy amount from their invoice to you.
However, we only cover up to a maximum equivalent to the City of Copenhagen's rate. This means that if you are eligible for a fully income-based subsidy, there may still be an additional payment for the difference between our rate and the private institution's rate.
If, in connection with any recalculations/annual adjustments, you need to repay or receive money, it will be a matter between you and the City of Copenhagen.
What should I do if my subsidy has been stopped?
You need to apply again via Digital Pladsanvisning.
Forældrebetalingen will stop your subsidy if you do not respond to our notification letter (Partshøringsbrev). If you are eligible for the subsidy, you will receive it from the first day of the month following the submission of your application.
Example 1: If you apply on January 4th, you will receive the subsidy from February 1st. Example 2: If you apply on January 31st, you will receive the subsidy from February 1st.
Can I apply for the subsidy for private schools?
No, not through Forældrebetalingen in the City of Copenhagen. You need to contact the private school directly to inquire about any possible financial assistance.
Does it matter if my children living at home earn money?
No, it does not affect the subsidy.
Can I receive the subsidy if my child attends a childcare service in another municipality?
Yes, if you and your child live the City of Copenhagen. You apply for the subsidy via Digital Pladsanvisning.
However, please note that even if you have a 100 percent subsidy, you may have an additional payment if you live in the City of Copenhagen and your child is enrolled in another municipality. This is because the City of Copenhagen only provides a subsidy up to the cost of a similar place in City of Copenhagen.
You can see the price for an institution in another municipality if you live in the City of Copenhagen at the bottom of the following page.
Rules for income-based subsidy
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Change in income
The municipality receives automatic notifications from the Danish Tax Agency (SKAT) every month, if the income for you or your spouse/cohabitant changes. If the change has an impact on your income-based subsidy, your parental payment fee will be adjusted automatically for the month in question.
Recalculation
Your parental payment fee is recalculated on an ongoing basis, both if your income rises or falls by at least 5 steps on the free space scale compared to the income for which you were granted the subsidy. The 5 steps correspond to a change in income of DKK 1,923 per month (2025)
The impact of holiday pay on the subsidy
Your holiday pay is included in the calculation of your income-based subsidy in the month it is registered in SKAT's income register. This may mean that the holiday pay will be included in the calculation in the month your employment ends if, for example, you change jobs during the year, even if you do not receive the holiday pay that month. When the holiday pay is disbursed to you from Feriekonto, it will not affect your subsidy, as it has already been included in the calculation of your income.
Recalculation of the subsidy when enrolling in a private childcare service
If you have received a letter about monthly adjustment in connection with a recalculation of your subsidy, the financial matter will be between you and the City of Copenhagen.
Annual readjustment
Your financial subsidy is adjusted once a year. The adjustment is based on information from the income register and the annual tax statement from SKAT. The adjustment also includes income changes that have been within the 5 steps in the ongoing monthly recalculations.
You still have an obligation to inform Forældrebetalingen if there are changes in your family's composition.
You can read more about the rules for income-based subsidies in Regulation No. 2058 of November 15, 2021 (Childcare) and Regulation No. 1926 of December 9, 2020 (After- school centers and club offers). You can find the regulations at www.retsinformation.dk.
Contact
Forældrebetaling
Nyropsgade 7, 1st. Floor
Office opening hours
09:00 - 13:00
09:00 - 13:00
09:00 - 13:00
13:00 - 18:00
09:00 - 13:00
Phone opening hours
10:00 - 13:00
10:00 - 13:00
13:00 - 17:00
10:00 - 13:00
Is your child already enrolled in a childcare service in the City of Copenhagen?
Then you can also write securely to Forælderbetaling by logging in to Digital Pladsanvisning, where we can respond to your enquiry faster.