Hungary launches 100,000‑forint school‑start benefit for 400,000 children

Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced a means‑tested school‑start benefit of 100,000 forints per child, funded at about 40 billion forints ($128 million) a year. The grant, split into two payments of 50,000 forints – the first transferred by 24 August and the second issued as a voucher in November – is tax‑free and not subject to enforcement.

Eligibility is linked to existing social‑support categories: children receiving a regular child‑protection benefit, those with a higher‑rate family allowance because of chronic illness or severe disability, special‑needs pupils, participants in the Dobbantó programme or workshop‑school training, children from single‑parent families, and those living in child‑care institutions or with foster parents. The government estimates that up to 400,000 children will receive the aid.

The scheme is introduced amid a widening 2026 budget deficit, projected at more than 7 % of GDP and recently reported at 9 %. The Tisza party, which came to power in April, says the benefit is part of broader fiscal consolidation, anti‑corruption, and public‑procurement reforms aimed at reducing the deficit to 3 % by 2030. Opposition figures have criticised the rollout, noting a discrepancy between earlier campaign promises of aid for 700,000 children and the 400,000 now slated to receive it.