Morocco to Raise Child Allowances and Expand Support for Vulnerable Children by 2026
Rabat, The Gulf Observer: As part of the government’s ongoing implementation of the direct social support program for low-income families, Morocco is preparing to increase monthly child allowances by 2026. The initiative will also introduce special financial assistance for orphans and neglected children residing in social welfare institutions.
According to the draft 2026 Finance Bill, monthly allowances for the first three children will increase by amounts ranging from MAD 50 ($5) to MAD 100 ($10). For children in school or under the age of six, the support will rise from MAD 200 ($20) to MAD 300 ($30) for non-orphans, and from MAD 350 ($35) to MAD 400 ($40) for paternal orphans.
Children with disabilities are set to receive higher compensation, increasing from MAD 300 to MAD 400 for non-orphans, and from MAD 450 ($45) to MAD 500 ($50) for paternal orphans. Meanwhile, aid for out-of-school children will grow from MAD 150 ($15) to MAD 200 ($20) per month.
Economics and social protection expert Khaled Benali said the increase forms part of Morocco’s broader social protection framework, designed to strengthen direct financial support to vulnerable households.
“Every increase, even if it’s only MAD 50 or 60, has a tangible impact on the family budget,” Benali told SNRTnews, describing the revision as a positive signal of the government’s responsiveness to current economic realities.
“It is unreasonable to approve support at a specific time and then continue with the same amounts despite changing economic data, most notably inflation and rising prices,” he added.
Benali emphasized that the measure aligns with framework law 09.21 on social protection, which obliges the government to implement all provisions by the end of 2025. The inclusion of targeted assistance for orphans and neglected children, he noted, reflects a more precise mechanism for identifying and supporting families truly in need.
“The goal is to ensure that public resources are directed toward those who truly need them and to overcome the obstacles that plagued previous support systems,” he explained.
Spending on Morocco’s universal social protection project is projected to reach MAD 41.5 billion ($4 billion) by 2026, marking an increase of MAD 4 billion ($390 million) from 2025. The initiative underscores Morocco’s commitment to promoting social justice, improving the targeting of beneficiaries, and enhancing the living conditions of children and disadvantaged families.
