Second, programmes differ in how they are targeted. As summarized in Table 2 below,
27 out of the 43 countries provide universal or quasi-universal child benefits. Universal
child benefits cover all children regardless of age or household income.37 Quasi-universal
child benefits take a similar approach but with some restrictions, such as setting a lower
age limit (for example, the child allowance is provided until the child is 8 years old in the
Republic of Korea). Affluence-tested programmes are a form of quasi-universal benefits
that exclude children in the highest-earning households or taper off with rising income
(such as child benefits in Slovenia). Means-tested programmes, on the other hand, are
more selective and limit benefits to households without sufficient income to meet their
basic needs. In 16 countries, only means-tested programmes target children or their
households. There are, however, 17 Report Card countries that provide both a universal
(or quasi-universal) benefit that covers all households with children and a means-tested
component to supplement the incomes of those in need.
37
Table 2.
Overview of child and family benefits in Report Card
countries
Programme type
Countries
Universal, quasiuniversal, or affluencetested child/family
benefits (only)
Austria, Switzerland,
Germany, Denmark, Ireland,
Italy, Luxembourg, Latvia,
Norway, Slovakia
10
Means-tested child/
family benefits (only)
Australia, Bulgaria, Canada,
Chile, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Cyprus, Czechia, Spain,
France, Greece, Croatia,
Mexico, Portugal, Slovenia,
Türkiye, United States
17
Both universal and
means-tested
Belgium, Estonia, Finland,
Hungary, Iceland, Israel,
Japan, Republic of
Korea, Lithuania, Malta,
the Kingdom of the
Netherlands, New Zealand,
Poland, Romania, Sweden,
United Kingdom
16
At least one non-contributory
child benefit
All
43
35
Child Poverty in the Midst of Wealth
Number of countries
Source:
See Technical Appendix
Note:
In a number of Report
Card countries, there are
‘generic’ social assistance
programmes or minimum
income guarantees that
provide protection for
families with children.
Innocenti Report Card 18
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