Norwegian Ministers Agree to Cut Cash Allowance for Children Between 20 and 23 Months Old

FROGNER (VG) Tonje Brenna (Ap) really wants to wreck it. Kjersti Toppe (Sp) likes it. Now the two Ministers of State for Children have agreed to cut the duration of the cash allowance.

Close to the playground in Vigelandsparken itself, the two Ministers for Children present the compromise:

• The cash support is continued for children between 13 and 19 months.
• The cash support for children between 20 and 23 months will be discontinued.

The new arrangement, which will now be sent out for consultation, thus constitutes a change from the promises in the government platform.

In Hurdal, Ap and Sp agreed to discontinue the cash allowance for children between 18 and 24 months – and introduce a toddler allowance for those who have applied for but not received a nursery place.

Instead, Brenna, Toppe and the rest of the government change the cash benefits act.

In practice, the right to cash support will lapse where the right to a nursery place applies.

– The solution ensures that all families will either be entitled to a nursery place or entitled to cash support, Brenna and Toppe say almost at the same time.

– I believe that this is a really good political compromise. For the families, this means that you either have cash support, or you have a nursery place. This means that no matter what choice you make as a parent, there is an offer or support there for the family, says Tonje Brenna.

She claims that today’s outfit has not been agreed between the two ministers. Both pose in off-white shirts over dark trousers.

Kjersti Toppe follows up. The Minister for Children is herself a mother of six. She has appreciated the freedom of choice and received substantial cash support when her children were small.

– The most important thing for us has also been to keep the cash support for the youngest children. Parents of the youngest can have that freedom of choice, it means more to them than the parents of the oldest one-year-olds.
So then I think it’s a compromise that we live very well with, says Toppe.

– Does that mean that you are saving the cash allowance now, Brenna?

– No, I am not protecting the cash support, but I am saying that, firstly, this is a good compromise between two parties that have different views on the cash support. And just as important: for the families, this means that you either have a nursery place or you have cash support. It also provides predictability for the families, replies Tonje Brenna (Ap).

– Why are you so happy about the cash benefit, Toppe?

– I think the most important thing is that families can have a freedom of choice, and that does not mean that the cash allowance is for the many. It is in a way subordinate. For those who use it, it is important, replies Kjersti Toppe (Sp).

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Tonje Brenna, who is responsible for the kindergartens in the government, confirms that during the work on this solution, in practice the ministry made a decision not to go in for ongoing admissions in the kindergartens.

– I think ideally everyone would have wanted continuous admission, but having kindergarten places available at all times costs around NOK 7 billion. So we won’t be able to do that in the foreseeable future, says Tonje Brenna.
– I don’t think it’s the right use of resources either, she adds.