In short: there is an education support payment of 500 lei per child, paid in a single instalment onto a card, for children from disadvantaged families. For preschoolers enrolled in state education, eligibility follows Law no. 248/2015. The money can be used exclusively for school supplies, clothing (including sports kit) and footwear connected to school or kindergarten. The application is filed with the education unit within 25 calendar days of the start of classes.
That short deadline is why many eligible families lose the support: the money isn’t missing, the on-time application is.
Who qualifies
For preschoolers, the criterion is membership of a disadvantaged family, under Law no. 248/2015 on stimulating participation in preschool education among children from disadvantaged families.
Three important clarifications:
- State education only. Children enrolled at private kindergartens are not covered by this scheme.
- The income threshold differs between preschoolers and schoolchildren. For preschoolers, the ceiling under Law no. 248/2015 applies, which is stricter than the one used for preparatory to eighth grade.
- Attendance matters. The scheme is designed as an incentive for regular kindergarten attendance.
⚑ The exact income threshold per family member is updated and differs from year to year. Don’t rely on figures from press articles — ask for the value applicable to the current year directly at the kindergarten office or the Social Assistance Directorate at the city hall.
What you can buy
The 500 lei is loaded onto an education card and can be used exclusively for:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| School supplies | Notebooks, pencils, colours, backpack, work materials |
| Clothing | Kindergarten clothing, sports kit, uniform where required |
| Footwear | Indoor and outdoor footwear for kindergarten |
Restrictions work as with any social card: cash cannot be withdrawn and products outside the eligible categories cannot be bought. The card is used at affiliated retailers.
For what your child actually needs at kindergarten, see the practical list in what to pack in the backpack.
When and how to apply
The deadline is short and fixed: within 25 calendar days of the start of classes. In practice, if the school year begins in September, the window closes in early October.
The steps:
- Ask at the kindergarten office whether the unit has received this year’s instructions and what the application template is.
- File the application together with supporting documents on family income.
- Ask for the registration number — your proof of filing on time.
- Follow the communications about card loading; it does not happen instantly.
Usual documents: the standard form, parents’ ID documents, the child’s birth certificate and income documents. ⚑ The exact list is set annually — confirm with the unit.
Don’t confuse it with the kindergarten social voucher
These are two different things, and the confusion is common:
| 500-lei education support | Kindergarten social voucher | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Card, single instalment per school year | Monthly support |
| Purpose | Supplies, clothing, footwear | Attendance incentive |
| Basis | Eligibility conditions under Law no. 248/2015 | Law no. 248/2015 |
| Can they be combined? | Distinct schemes — ask at the unit | — |
For the monthly one, see the dedicated guide: the kindergarten social voucher in Cluj.
Other forms of support, each with its own rules: the state child allowance, nursery fee exemptions, employer nursery vouchers and the tax deduction.
What to do if you missed the deadline
Realistically: the 25-day deadline is firm, and late filing cannot be fixed informally. What you can do:
- Ask at the unit whether there is an additional stage this year — extensions occasionally appear through new legislation.
- Check with the Social Assistance Directorate what other support applies to you.
- Note the deadline for next year — the only measure that genuinely works.
Frequently asked questions
Who receives the 500-lei education vouchers? Children from disadvantaged families. For preschoolers, eligibility conditions are those set by Law no. 248/2015, and the child must be enrolled in state education.
Do preschoolers at private kindergartens qualify? No. The scheme covers children enrolled in state education.
What can I buy with the 500 lei? Exclusively school supplies, clothing (including sports kit or uniform) and footwear connected to school or kindergarten. The money cannot be withdrawn as cash.
When must the application be filed? Within 25 calendar days of the start of classes. The deadline is short, so ask at the office during the first week.
Is it paid monthly or once? In a single instalment per school year. Monthly support is a different scheme — the kindergarten social voucher.
Where do I file the application? At the education unit where your child is enrolled. Ask for the registration number as proof of filing on time.
Sources
- Social vouchers for education support worth 500 lei per child — Ministry of Education
- Law no. 248/2015 on stimulating preschool participation among children from disadvantaged families — Romanian Legislative Portal
- Education support vouchers — programme information — Ministry of European Investments and Projects
- Education cards — who can benefit
- Cluj-Napoca City Hall — Social Assistance Directorate
Conclusion
The 500-lei support is not granted automatically: you apply, at the unit, within 25 days of classes starting. If you’re eligible, ask at the office in the first week of school and get the registration number — the rest is administrative.
And if you’re still choosing a kindergarten, compare the state options in your neighbourhood on the piticluj.ro interactive map. See also our data sources.