Месечни помощи за деца — child benefit

Monthly benefit paid by Social Assistance Directorates, means-tested:

• 1 child: BGN 50/month (≈ €25)
• 2 children: BGN 110/month (total)
• 3 children: BGN 165/month
• 4+ children: BGN 175/month (+BGN 20/extra child)
• Income cap: monthly income/person ≤ BGN 510

Еднократна помощ — birth grant

• 1st child: BGN 375 lump sum
• 2nd child: BGN 900
• 3rd child: BGN 450
• 4+ child: BGN 300
• One-off payment

Maternity benefit — 410 days at 90%

Among Europe’s longest maternity leaves:

• 410 days total (45 before + 365 after birth)
• Benefit at 90% of average salary over last 24 months
• Floor: BGN 933/month (minimum wage)
• Paid by NSSI (Social Security)
• Eligibility: 12 contribution months in the last 24

Parental leave — 2nd year at flat rate

After 410 days of maternity, parental leave up to age 2:

• Flat-rate benefit of BGN 780/month (≈ €400) in 2025
• Paid until child turns 2
• Father can take months 2 and 3 of the 1st year (mandatory 2-month transfer — EU directive reform)

Paternity leave

15 days of paternity leave at 100% of salary, to be taken within 6 months of birth. Paid by NSSI.

Nurseries — Детски ясли and градини

Public nurseries (ясли) for 0–3 and kindergartens (градини) for 3–7 are heavily municipality-subsidised:

• Sofia: ~BGN 50–100/month in nursery
• Plovdiv, Varna: similar
• Pre-school compulsory from age 4 since 2020 (free)

Official sources

• NSSI — Maternity
• MTSP — Family allowances