Thirteen years ago, a new time calculation began in our country, which meant the introduction of a family-friendly approach. The Hungarian state set out to protect families, encourage family formation and improve demographic indicators, and in order to achieve the set goals, it created a family support system that tries to respond to all life situations and provide solutions, writes Tünde Főrész, Mária Kopp Institute in the Magyar Nemzet President for Population and Families (KINCS).

Undoubtedly, one of the most successful family support measures was the introduction of the family home creation discount (csoc), which has been used by more than 230,000 families since 2015, so that every fifth family was able to move into a home more suitable for them. At the same time, in addition to providing housing, encouraging childbearing was also a priority goal, which fulfilled the expectations attached to it. As a result of the home building measures, the families requiring the support raise two or more children on average, so all those claiming the allowance contribute to the population growth.

It is no coincidence that home building appears so prominently in Hungarian family policy. The 2019 research of the Mária Kopp Institute for Population and Population (KINCS) reveals that, in addition to a stable relationship and a secure financial background, the most important condition for starting and expanding a family is having one's own home.

Measures to help families live, and their continuous expansion, are therefore essential in order for as many children as possible to be born in Hungary. With this in mind, starting next January, the government will provide greater financial support than ever before to couples planning to have children under the name chocolate plus. The new support will replace the old chocolate throughout the country, adapting to the different and newer needs of families arising in the current economic situation. As a result of the more uncertain economic environment, a decline in both the number of births and marriages occurred from the second half of 2022, and as a result, the number of chocolate support contracts concluded also decreased.

The Csoc Plus starting in 2024 therefore comes at the best possible time, it can have a positive effect not only on the housing market, but also on demographic indicators, resulting in an increase in the number of marriages and births. As expected, chocolate plus can positively influence the desire to get married and have children next year. There is already enormous interest in the new credit scheme, as this type of support is beneficial to everyone who is married and wants to have children. The conditions are extremely favorable: according to the government's decision, only a maximum of three percent interest must be repaid for one year after taking out the loan, a one-year (optional) repayment moratorium can be applied for after the arrival of the first child, and ten to ten million forints are waived after the arrival of the second and all subsequent children from the outstanding capital debt.

According to estimates so far, in the case of Csoc Plus, even compared to the best home loans on the market, millions less must be repaid. In the case of the HUF fifty million loan, families with three children have to pay a third smaller repayment compared to the market housing loan, for example. In the case of married couples who have several children in a short period of time, it may also happen that they end up having to pay back less money than they requested for the purpose of buying a home.

In Hungarian family policy, the introduction of Csok Plus is another milestone, which, in addition to guaranteeing the well-being and well-being of families, also wants to contribute to reducing population decline by encouraging marriage and childbearing.

The demographic ice age can only be overcome with a pro-family approach and measures, of which the new home-building support starting on January 1, 2024, Csok plus, will be of outstanding importance.

The rules of the csok plus new home building program have been published

The government decree containing the detailed rules of the csok plus new home creation program has been published in the Hungarian Gazette, the Ministry of Culture and Innovation informed MTI on Thursday.

The discounted loan scheme, which will be available from next January 1, can be used by both married couples who are about to have children and those who already have children, if they want another child or children, the ministry's announcement states.

The loan of up to HUF 50 million, with an interest rate of up to 3 percent, can be applied for in the entire territory of the country for the acquisition of the first shared home, for moving to a home of greater value than the existing one, or for expanding the family home.

"The government's primary goal is to provide all the support necessary for the birth of the desired children and for the families to have a safe roof over their heads"

they announced. Therefore, from January 1 next year, the cabinet will launch a larger-than-ever home-building subsidy under the name csok plus.

According to the newly published government decree, married couples planning to have children can use the uniquely discounted loan with a maximum interest rate of 3 percent for an amount of HUF 15, 30, or even 50 million, depending on how many children they have and how many more they plan to have.

Families where the wife has not yet reached the age of 41 can take advantage of the additional option of social security, but until the end of 2025, in the case of a pregnancy that has reached the 12th week, the scheme can be applied for even after reaching this age.

Also, according to the recently promulgated legislation, additional discounts can be availed upon the arrival of the desired children: upon the arrival of the first child - from the age of 12 weeks of the fetus - the loan repayment can be suspended for a maximum of one year, and upon the arrival of the second and all subsequent children, the existing amount is reduced by HUF 10 million each debt, for which proof of 12 weeks of pregnancy is also sufficient.

With the loan program, the government's aim is to support the achievement of realistic housing goals, therefore families can apply for property value up to a maximum of HUF 80 million in the case of acquiring the first joint home, and in the case of moving to another property or expanding for a property value of up to HUF 150 million construction.

In small settlements with less than 5,000 people, married couples with children can use the Csok Plus together with the village Csok from January 1, 2024, and in other settlements it can be requested instead of the Csok scheme.

The allowance can be applied for until the end of this year, the changes do not affect the entitlements of families acquired with the allowance.

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