Paternal child care benefit or “father gyed” is not a new option in the Hungarian family support system, yet few people know about it and few people take advantage of it. Why is that? And who benefits from it? In this article, we explore this topic.
The birth of a child is always a joyful and exciting time in a family’s life, but it also comes with many challenges and can bring significant financial changes. Therefore, it is definitely worth examining what support and benefits parents will be entitled to. Thanks to previous legislative changes, paternal child care benefit is also available in Hungary, meaning that under certain eligibility conditions, not only the mother but also the father can claim the child care benefit (gyed). Therefore, it should be considered which parent should take advantage of the support.
Since the law also allows the parent to work for unlimited period while receiving gyed, choosing paternal child care benefit, i.e. the father claiming gyed, seems like a logical decision. It may happen that the father wants to stay home with the child and the mother returns to work, but typically parents use the paternal child care benefit option if the mother’s income is lower than the father’s or if the mother would only be entitled to child care allowance (gyes).
Who is eligible for gyed and for how much?
An insured parent who has been insured for 365 days within the two years preceding the child’s birth is eligible for gyed.
There is a maximum amount for gyed, which is up to 70% of twice the current minimum wage per month. In 2025, this upper limit is a gross monthly amount of HUF 407,120. From the amount of gyed, 15% personal income tax advance and 10% pension contribution are deducted. If the minimum wage increases, the maximum amount of gyed also increases.
For which time period is paternal child care benefit available?
If the mother was entitled to infant care benefit (csed), then paternal child care benefit can start from the day after the csed expires, or from the day after the corresponding period (168 days) expires, until the child reaches the age of 2, or in the case of twins, until the children reach the age of 3.
If the mother was not entitled to csed, then paternal child care benefit starts from the 169th day after the child’s birth.
If the father meets the eligibility conditions, the parents can decide at any time to cancel the gyed/gyes already granted to the mother and the father can claim it instead.
How can the father apply for gyed?
To apply for paternal child care benefit, the father must first submit the “Application for childcare allowance” form to the employer. Following this, the employer submits the “Claim for cash benefits from health insurance and sick pay after accidents, as well as cash benefits available on a discretionary basis (EB_IGBEJ_01)” form electronically to the health insurance fund via the SZÜF portal.
The following documents must be attached to the claim:
- the “Application for child care benefit” form filled by the father,
- a copy of the child’s birth certificate,
- a copy of the child’s social security card (TAJ card).
It is very important that if the father submits the claim for gyed while the mother is receiving gyed or gyes, the mother must cancel it:
- in the case of gyed, using the “Application for cancellation of child care benefit” form,
- in the case of gyes, by submitting the “Cancellation of family support benefit” form.
If the mother is not receiving gyes, the decision on this must also be attached to the paternal child care benefit claim.
Can paternal child care benefit be claimed retroactively?
Paternal child care benefit can also be claimed retroactively, which usually occurs if the parents decide later that the father should take advantage of this benefit. Gyed can be claimed retroactively for up to six months from the date of the claim, meaning that the benefit can be established and paid from the first day of the sixth month preceding the date of the claim, provided the eligibility conditions are met.
If the father claims gyed retroactively and the mother received gyed or gyes for this period, the mother must repay the amount of gyed or gyes received to the government office or to the bank account provided by the employer if it is a social security paying agent.
Another way to repay is if the father agrees on the “Claim for child care benefit” form that the amount received unlawfully will be deducted from the paternal child care benefit, and only the difference will be paid to the father.
From the above, it follows that if the mother not only receives gyed but also gyes, even for an older child, she must cancel it because only one of them can claim the benefit. According to the law, all benefits must be in one hand.
Considerations for choosing paternal child care benefit
In the long term, there are many factors to consider before parents decide to have the father take gyed, as this choice can have both advantages and disadvantages. These disadvantages and considerations can include:
- The mother is on unpaid leave from her job to care for her child (has not returned to work), and since it is the father who receives the benefit, the mother’s insurance is suspended from the first day without benefit.
- The mother is required to pay the individual health service contribution to the Hungarian tax authority during the suspension period. In 2025, this monthly amount is HUF 11,800, which is HUF 390 per day. The mother must handle this independently, the employer only informs her of this obligation.
- The employer reports the start and end of the insurance suspension to the Hungarian tax authority on the T1041 form.
- During the suspension of insurance, the mother is not entitled to sick pay in case of incapacity for work.
- If the mother’s insurance suspension exceeds 30 days, her continuous insurance period is interrupted, and the calculation of the time spent in insurance only resumes when she returns to work. She will only be entitled to sick pay based on the number of days spent in insurance after the interruption.
- In addition to the suspension of insurance, the mother also suffers a significant disadvantage in another area, which is that this period will not be counted in the number of years in employment for her future pension due to the lack of benefits.
- Last but not least, it is worth considering the case when the mother does not return to work and plans to have another child. In this case, the mother will not be entitled to csed, and the father cannot be entitled to csed anyway. In this case, the mother – due to the lack of income to be considered and the interrupted insurance relationship – will be entitled to gyes instead of csed from the birth of the child for 168 calendar days, and after this period expires, the father can claim gyed again for this child if he still meets the eligibility conditions.
However, choosing paternal child care benefit is not a disadvantage, if the mother wants to return to work, she will be entitled to leave (for the period of maternity leave and the first six months of unpaid leave taken for childcare) regardless of whether she received gyed.
Furthermore, choosing paternal child care benefit does not disadvantage the mother in calculating a possible severance pay, as the period of maternity leave and unpaid leave taken for childcare must also be taken into account, regardless of whether she received gyed.
Let’s plan consciously for the long term!
It can be financially advantageous for the family if the father takes gyed. However, as our article reveals, it is worth thoroughly considering the questions surrounding the mother’s insurance relationship, especially if the mother does not return to work and the family plans to have more children.
The information collected in our article is general and informative; in reality, each case must be examined individually. For questions regarding individual cases, please contact us with confidence. The experienced payroll experts at WTS Klient Hungary will help our clients find the most optimal solution with personalised advice.
This article provides general information and does not constitute advice.