Engangsstønad – one-off benefit (becikowe)
One-off benefit for the birth of a child or adoption, which can be claimed if you have had no income or your earned income entitles you to very low parental benefit (foreldrepenger).
1. Eligibility criteria
1.1. Requirements
The requirement that must be met in order to receive the benefit is being a member of the Norwegian social security system for 12 months at the time of birth or adoption.
However, please note that in the case of adoption, there is no entitlement to the benefit when:
- it is the adoption of a spouse’s child
- the adopted child is over 15 years old
Receiving the one-off benefit prevents you from later receiving parental benefit.
1.2 Who is a member of the Norwegian social security system?
By working, we pay contributions from month 1, so after 12 months of work in Norway we are entitled to the benefit.
We can also become a member of the Norwegian social security system through family reunification.
1.3. Who can receive engangsstønad?
Normally, becikowe is due to the mother, but in some cases the benefit may also be received by the father or the so-called “co-mother”.
Who is the co-mother?
This is a person who has the legal status of the child’s/partner’s spouse, but is not the biological mother and shares status with the child’s biological mother. This could be, for example, the mother’s partner in a same-sex relationship. However, it should be remembered that if there is a mother and a co-mother, there cannot be a father in the legal sense, because the co-mother replaces the father in such a case. The term has been used in Norway since 2009. The term co-mother is also used in the case of a relationship between two men.
When can the father or co-mother receive becikowe:
- in the case of sole adoption
- when the mother loses parental rights or dies and the father or co-mother becomes the sole legal guardian
- if, within 56 weeks after birth or adoption, they take over care of the child with the intention of assuming sole parental responsibility
1.4 Engangsstønad when only the father works in Norway
Unfortunately, the benefit is not available to mothers who stay in Poland while their partners/husbands work in Norway. It is worth noting, however, that in this case it is possible to apply for other parental benefits.
2. Benefit amount
The one-off amount is 92 648 NOK
The benefit is tax-free.
3. When should you apply?
- The mother may apply for the one-off benefit no earlier than in the 22nd week of pregnancy
- The father or co-mother may apply no earlier than when the date for establishing parental responsibility or transferring care is known
- In the case of adoption, the application may be submitted as soon as the date of transfer of care is known
NOTE → The application must be submitted no later than 6 months after the child’s birth or adoption, otherwise the right to the one-off benefit is lost.
4. Death of the child and engangsstønad
If the child is stillborn or dies after birth after the 22nd week of pregnancy, the mother still has the right to the benefit.
5. Waiting time for a decision
The processing time is usually around 6 weeks. The benefit is usually paid one week after the application has been assessed.
6. Required documentation
- registreringsbevis (residence registration) or oppholdstillatelse (residence permit)
- when the child has not yet been born: pregnancy card (translated into Norwegian or English if the pregnancy is being monitored outside Norway)
- after birth: the child’s birth or adoption certificate (translated into Norwegian or English if the child was born outside Norway)
7. What does the service include?
The service includes:
- sending the application to NAV together with the required documentation (in the case of postal submission, we are not responsible for the delivery),
- attaching additional documentation (up to 2 times); further sending of documents/messages regarding the case is chargeable.
NOTE: The decision on whether the benefit is granted is made by NAV in Norway. The service only covers mediation between you and the office.