Hungary: Legal disputes arise over family allowance eligibility

Legal challenges and administrative errors are impacting the distribution of family benefits in Hungary. The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ) has reported that several families have had their child allowances unlawfully suspended due to system errors regarding school attendance. Under current regulations, unexcused absences exceeding 50 hours can lead to a three-month suspension of benefits. TASZ noted that even when parents provided valid documentation for absences, system errors incorrectly flagged them as unexcused. Despite these errors being acknowledged, the Hungarian State Treasury has not established a procedure for retroactive payments, potentially causing families to lose significant sums.

In a separate legal victory, the Budapest Regional Court ruled that registered partners in non-heterosexual relationships are entitled to child allowances for children they co-parent. The court overturned a government decision that had denied benefits to a family of three children, arguing that the parents' relationship did not fit the traditional definition of a mother and father. The ruling mandates that the government must treat registered partners equally to married couples regarding child allowance eligibility.