The leisure grant – how it works
The Hafnarfjörður leisure allowance has changed. The allowance is now paid annually, instead of being split into monthly instalments. This gives families more flexibility to decide when during the year to use it.
Leisure grant with children from Hafnarfjörður
All children in Hafnarfjörður aged 3–18 are entitled to a leisure allowance. Children aged 6–18 receive 65,000 krónur per year and children aged 3–5 receive 32,500 krónur per year.
The structure of the grant was changed at the beginning of the year for the benefit of families in Hafnarfjörður. The biggest change is simple: The leisure grant is now annual instead of a monthly grant.
Fjölskyldur geta því ráðið hvenær innan ársins þær nýta styrkinn og þurfa ekki lengur að nýta hann frá mánuði til mánaðar til að nýta alla upphæðina.
Bear in mind that 2026 is a transitional year, which has caused some confusion. This is understandable, as we are now winding up the old system, under which it was possible to carry over the leisure allowance. Let's take an example:
Example 1
A parent registered their child for football with Haukar in September 2025. The course lasted for twelve months, from September 2025 to August 2026. The leisure allowance was allocated to the football when the child was registered. The Municipality of Hafnarfjörður thereby committed to pay 4,750 krónur per month with the child to the sports club's course.
The eight months of the course fell in the year 2026, from January to August. A leisure grant in the amount of 38,000 krónur had therefore already been arranged for the year 2026. The child's leisure allowance for the year 2026 is 65,000 krónur.
65,000 kr. – 38,000 kr. = 27,000 kr.
The child has it 27,000 krónur remaining on the leisure allowance until the end of 2026.
Important: The child has not lost 38,000 krónur. They have already been used to pay for their football activities this year.
Example 2
A child was enrolled for the 2025/26 leisure activity, which only ran until the end of February 2026. The council paid 4,750 krónur per month in January and February. Then they have 9,500 krónur when being utilised by the 2026 Strength of Year.
The child has it:
65,000 kr. – 9,500 kr. = 55,500 kr.
Therefore, 55,500 krónur remain available for expenditure in 2026.
Yes, this is confusing, but bear in mind that from 1 January 2027, it will be simpler. The change in 2026 is due to the leisure allowance being moved from a monthly to an annual system. The children will receive the full allowance.
From 1 January 2027, all children will receive the full leisure allowance again, regardless of how the 2026 allowance was used.
Each calendar year then begins with a new leisure allowance, and it will not be possible to carry over an allowance from one year into the next.
In short
- Children aged 6–18 get 65,000 kr. per year.
- Children aged 3–5 get 32,500 kr. per year.
- The strength is now annual instead of monthly.
- The grant can no longer be allocated beyond the New Year.
- The year 2026 is year of change due to commitments made for the year 2025.
- The amount already paid for a child's leisure activities in the year 2026 is deducted from that year's grant.
- On 1 January 2027, all children will receive a full leisure grant again.
The aim of the change is to make the leisure grant more flexible and ensure that it is better used by children and families.
Yes, Hafnarfjörður is a health town.