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Receiving advances on maintenance payments

FAQ Receiving advances

  • Who is entitled to advances on maintenance payments?

    The DAVO/SECAL only pays advances on maintenance payments for children to whom maintenance allowance has been granted in an enforceable title.

    Please note:

    • If the children are over the age of majority, the entitlement tochild benefits
    • We only pay advances for future maintenance allowance and not for arrears.

    Can I also get advances for the maintenance allowance that has to be paid for myself?

    No, we do not pay advances for personal maintenance allowance granted to the ex-partner. Not even if, according to the judgement, your ex-partner not only has to pay maintenance allowance for the children, but also for you.

    However, you can get help in recovering personal maintenance allowance. We will pay you if your ex-partner has either paid us voluntarily or if we have been able to recover money from him (for example by attachment of his wages).

  • What is the maximum salary I can earn to get advances on maintenance payments?

    Since the amendment to the law of 2 July 2020, the conditions for entitlement to advances on maintenance payments have been adjusted. Consequently, the income ceiling has been abolished.

    The DAVO/SECAL will grant advances for your children who are entitled to maintenance allowance, regardless of your income, if:

    • they are under the age of majority
    • they are over the age of majority and you can prove that:
      • your children are still attending school or are in the vocational development phase
      • they are still entitled to child benefits
  • My child is over the age of majority, is he or she still entitled to advances?

    Is your child over the age of 18? Then you can still receive advance payments as long as:

    • your child is still attending school or is in the vocational development phase,
    • your child is still entitled to child benefits.
  • Does the DAVO/SECAL pay advances on maintenance arrears?

    We only pay advances on maintenance allowance that you should receive monthly in the future.

    Therefore, you cannot get advances for the maintenance allowance you should have received in the past (the so-called maintenance arrears).

  • How long can I receive advances?

    The entitlement to advance payments, if you request it, is granted automatically until the day your child reaches the age of 18.

    You can also receive advances for children over the age of majority. However, you will have to prove every six months that:

    • your child is still attending school or is in the vocational development phase,
    • your child is still entitled to child benefits.
  • How can I request advances or the extension of entitlement to advance payments?

  • When will the DAVO/SECAL pay my advances?

    Have we confirmed that you will receive advance payments? Then you will receive your first payment in the month following that confirmation. 

    Payment dates

    Month Advance payment order

    July 2023

    17.07.2023

    August 2023

    21.08.2023

    September 2023

    18.09.2023

    October 2023

    16.10.2023

    November 2023

    20.11.2023

    December 2023

    18.12.2023

    January 2024

    15.01.2024
    February 2024

    19.02.2024

    March 2024

    18.03.2024

    April 2024

    15.04.2024

    May 2024

    20.05.2024

    June 2024

    17.06.2024

    Please note that it may take several days before the amount is credited to your account.

  • What will be the amount of the advance payment?

    In principle, the advance payment is equal to the amount due by the maintenance debtor for your child, but you can receive a maximum of EUR 175 per child per month.

    Example:

    • Your child is entitled to a monthly maintenance allowance of €180: you will receive an advance payment of €175 per month.
    • Your child is entitled to a monthly maintenance allowance of €120: you will receive an advance payment of €120 per month.
    • Your two children are entitled to a monthly maintenance allowance of €100: you will receive an advance payment of €200 per month.
  • When will the DAVO/SECAL stop paying advances?

    We will stop paying advances on maintenance allowance if:

    • we have completely or partially ceased our intervention,
    • no more maintenance allowance is to be paid (e.g. because of a new enforceable title stating that no more maintenance allowance should be paid because your child is no longer entitled to it, etc.),
    • your child over the age of majority is no longer entitled to child benefits.