What changes when your child turns 18?

To be 18 years old was and is a milestone in a child's life. Finally, orficially grown up. Your child can now vote, drive independently, drink and buy alcohol, buy cigarettes, but also become financially independent. So quite a bit changes both for the child but also for the parent (s).

What do you have to think about when your child turns 18?

1. Reducing revenues:When your child turns 18, bothchild benefitif thechild-based budget. If the child is 18 in the middle or a quarter, you will still receive child benefit for the whole quarter by the Social Insurance Bank (SVB). The child budget is paid monthly and stops with effect from the month AFTER the child turns 18. If you are a parent, receive asurvivor benefitthen it stops at the moment when the child turns 18 (SVB). Does the child receive aorphan's pensionthen it may be that this benefit stops. In many pension schemes, the benefit stops if your child is 18or21 will be. Please take this into account. Sometimes the orphan's pension continues until your child finishes studying. The conditions for the orphan's pension vary per pension scheme, check how your child works.
2. Apply for compensation for students: If the child is still on thehigh school, it can apply for a concession for students. This compensation will replace the child benefit you have received every quarter as parents. This grant must be applied for by DUO with Digid.
   
3. Child alimony:Child alimony stops no later than when the child turns 21 years old (rather if the child is financially independent i.e. has a job with at least the minimum youth wage). What has changed is that the child can now indicate whether he wants to receive the child alimony on his own account. It is wise to have the child communicate to the alimony payer himself before the 18th birthday on which account he/she wants to receive the alimony. Even if the child does not want to change the account number and simply wants to run it on account number or the parent, it is wise to let this know in time so that there are no misunderstandings about it.
4. Request DigiD code: Without Digid you do not start anything so it is important that the child applies for a Digid so that he/she can log in to websites or the government but also for example the health insurance company. You also need the Digid to apply for student funding, care allowance or school allowance. To apply for the Digid, the child needs the personal number (found on passport or ID card).
5. Request care allowance:The child is likely to be eligible for health care allowance. You can apply for the healthcare allowance via the website or the Tax Administration. You need your Digid for this.
6. Health insurance rule: From the day the child turns 18, he/she must be insured. It is orten possible to stay insured through the parents but this has to be passed on. The parents will pay the premium, but the insurance is in the name or the child. If the child takes out a health insurance, he/she must pay the premium himself.
7. Check also the other insurances: If the child lives at home, it is orten insured on the liability insurance or the parents. This usually also applies if the child lives and studies in rooms. For other insurances, such as property insurance or travel insurance, they are orten not insured if they do not live at home. Also check how this is with funeral insurance.
8. Rule the banking: Sometimes savings accounts may expire when your child turns 18 (orten child savings accounts). Discuss with your child or decide for yourself what you will do with this money. If a child does not have a bank account yet, make sure he/she opens a bank account.
9. Discuss with your child banking matters:As parents, you are obliged to support your child financially until the child turns 21. Make clearappointmentswith the child what they can expect from you. How much do you contribute to the study? Discuss what you do with the health allowance, should the child give it up when you pay the health insurance contribution? It is also useful if your child is going to study abudgetso that the child can understand the cost or studying. Help create asavings plan.
10. Register social rental property: It can sometimes take years to qualify for a home/room. Even if they still live at home, it doesn't hurt to build up a registration period. Renting in the free sector is or course an option but that is almost always more expensive than renting a social rental property. From 18 years old they can register. If your child is going to study and in rooms, it may be wise to register at orfices that orfer student rooms in the city where your child is going to study.
11. Check data for payroll taxes if child has a job: An employer can ensure that the child has to pay less tax by means or the student and pupil scheme. Fill out the information form for the student and pupil tax scheme and give it to the employer so that your child has to pay less taxes. To be found on the site or the tax authorities. It can also be indicated whether he/she wants the employer to apply the tax rebate. The employer deducts less wage tax/national insurance contributions from wages. If the child does not do so, then check whether this can be recovered later when filling in the tax documents.
12. Request student funding: In secondary vocational education (MBO), your child is entitled to this from the moment he or she is 18 years old. For higher education (HBO or Wed) minors will also receive direct student funding from the academic year 2017-2018. Check on Duo.nl who is entitled to what when.
13. From the age or 18, there is no longer a qualification requirement:This means that your child no longer has to go to school. Even if it has not obtained a diploma (s). If your child sees this as the time to quit school, discuss that a diploma increases the chances on the job market.
14. From the age or 18, the same working hours apply as for adults: For example, your child can work up to 12 hours per shift and work up to 60 hours per week. It is also allowed to work at night, do call services and work overtime. There may be different rules in your collective agreement.
15. Organ donation: From 18 years old, the child can choose whether or not he wants to be an organ donor. The child automatically receives a letter with a donor form after the 18th birthday. In this letter it is requested to make a choice about organ donation. And to record that choice in the Donor Register. Discuss this with the child so that you too know what he/she wants. It is also nice for parents to know this.
16. To conclude subscriptions and contracts:At the age or 18, the child is financially responsible and can therefore conclude a telephone or other subscription without the consent or parent (s).Please note: so the child isitselfresponsible for any debts, arrears and contracts concluded. Parents can no longer reverse any purchases or loans. There are still misunderstandings about this because parents and children orten think that parents under the age or 21 remain liable for this.That is not the case!
17. Buy alcohol: At 18 years the child is allowed to drink alcohol, carry it with him and buy it. Between 18 and 25 years old, identification may be requested.
18. Driving without a coach: From 18 years old, your child is allowed to drive a car without the guidance or a coach. He/she is allowed to go on the road independently. The same rules apply to him/her as for all other novice drivers.
19. Obtain a motorcycle license: From 18 years old, your child can take practical exam for a light motor.
20. Votes: Every Dutchman with the right to vote is allowed to vote from the age or 18. This is the right to vote (also known as voting rights). Voting is not mandatory in the Netherlands but is perceived as desirable.