The Hungarian government has released further details of its planned school-start support scheme, revealing who could qualify for the financial aid ahead of the new academic year. According to the government, around 400,000 children may be eligible for the programme, which was previously announced as providing two payments of HUF 50,000.

Up to 400,000 children could benefit

Government spokesperson Anita Köböl said in a Facebook post that three ministries worked together to design the scheme, aiming to ensure the support reaches as many families in need as possible.

She said several different proposals were considered during the planning process, but Prime Minister Péter Magyar insisted that the government’s original campaign pledge be fully honoured. According to Köböl, this led to several draft proposals being revised before the final version was prepared, allowing the programme to cover the broadest possible group of beneficiaries.

Who will be eligible?

According to the current proposal, the school-start support would be available to:

  • children whose families receive regular child protection benefits;
  • children with chronic illnesses or severe disabilities;
  • children with special educational needs;
  • students participating in the Dobbantó or Workshop School (Műhelyiskola) programmes;
  • children living in single-parent families;
  • children growing up in child protection institutions or with foster parents;
  • children receiving orphan’s benefits.

The government says these categories were chosen to ensure the assistance reaches families facing the greatest financial challenges.

Proposal still open for consultation

The eligibility rules have not yet been finalised. The draft remains open for public consultation until 10 July, during which members of the public can submit comments and suggestions before the regulation is formally adopted.

Köböl said the government’s objective is to give every child a fairer start in education by helping families meet the costs associated with the beginning of the school year. The school-start grant is expected to become one of the government’s most important family support measures ahead of the new school term.

If you missed it: Schoolchildren in Hungary may receive over EUR 280 in back-to-school support