Alongside the joy of pregnancy, practical questions often come up as you prepare for your baby—for example: “How will we pay for everything we need?” So you don’t have to worry about this on your own, we’ve compiled all the key information about child benefit here. Feel free to also check out our article to find everything else related to this topic.
What is child benefit?
Child benefit, also called a child supplement, is a government benefit designed to support families. It is not a social welfare benefit, so it is generally available to all families with children and is independent of your income. It is intended to help cover a child’s basic monthly needs. The amount of child benefit is the same for all families and depends only on the number of children.
Child benefit or child allowance?
You are entitled either to child benefit or to a child allowance, which is credited against your tax liability. When you submit your tax return and the "Anlage Kind" for each of your children, the tax office automatically checks which option is more advantageous for you—you don’t need to decide this yourself. You can find more information about this on the website of the .
Who is entitled to child benefit?
Every family living in Germany is entitled to child benefit from the birth of their first child. The child must live in the household of the parents or legal guardians. This can also include grandparents, step-parents, or foster parents. However, child benefit is always paid to only one person, so you need to decide whether it should be paid to you or your partner. If you have multiple children, child benefit is paid as a single combined amount.
How and where to apply for child benefit?
To receive child benefit, you always need to submit an application; it is not paid out automatically. You can find the application form at the family benefits office responsible for you. Which office that is depends on your place of residence. For the application, you will need your own tax number and your child’s, as well as the of the child in the original. More information about this and a can be found on the . If you work in the public sector or are a civil servant, you submit the application through your employer or the responsible remuneration office. Child benefit is paid out once a month.
How much child benefit do you receive?
Child benefit is independent of income and depends on the number of children in the family:
219 euros per month are paid for the first and second child
235 euros per month for the third child
€250 per month for the fourth and each additional child
When does the child benefit arrive?
When your child benefit is paid out depends on the last digit of your child benefit number. The payment dates are set by the family benefits office and published annually. You can find the dates for 2021 and 2022 on the .
How long do you receive child benefit?
In general, you receive child benefit for your child until they reach the age of majority—that is, from birth until their 18th birthday. However, there are exceptions: For children who are in training, studying, or completing a recognized federal voluntary service, you can receive child benefit until the age of 25. The same applies to children who cannot find an apprenticeship place. If your child has completed an apprenticeship but cannot find a job, you will continue to receive child benefit until the age of 21. If your child has a disability that prevents them from caring for themselves, you can receive child benefit beyond the age of 25. You can find more information about this on the .
We hope this article has given you an initial overview and answered the most important questions about child benefit. Please remember that we cannot replace professional advice—if you have further questions, contact the appropriate office for you, and they will be happy to assist you.
We wish you a wonderful pregnancy and a lovely getting-to-know-you period!
