Cash transfers to families with children (discontinued), 2012

Cash transfers consist of family allowances, cash for care, parental benefit on birth, maternity grant on birth and adoption, transitional benefit, child care benefit and education benefit. The sum of the various cash transfers has declined since 2011, except family allowances and parental benefit on birth.

The aim of parental benefits is to secure parents’ incomes in connection with birth. Parental benefits, along with family allowances, account for the largest proportion of cash transfers to families with children. Payment of parental benefits has increased by four per cent since 2011 and 60 per cent since 2006. A major part of this development can be explained by the fact that the number of men who receive parental benefits on birth has increased considerably in recent years. Simultaneously, payment of parental benefits on average per recipient has also increased. The number of fathers receiving parental benefits on birth has increased from 37 000 in 2006 to 58 000 in 2012. This increment may be explained by the extended paternity leave for fathers.

Less in cash for care

Cash for care amounted to NOK 1.2 billion in 2012. This is seven per cent lower than the previous year. By comparison, the cash for care amounted to NOK 2.3 billion in 2006. This represents a decline of 46 per cent in the period 2006-2012. This may, to a large extent, be explained by the increased supply of day care and reduced rates for cash for care.

Oslo receives the highest amount of cash transfers

In 2012, families with children in Norway received an average of NOK 30 700 per child in cash transfers. Oslo consistently has higher payments of cash transfers per child. In 2012, parents in Oslo received an average of NOK 37 600 per child. Hedmark is the county with the lowest payouts on average, with NOK 27 800 per child.