You receive child benefit regardless of your income for every child from birth until at least their 18th birthday. All information on child benefit, an explanatory film and links to the relevant online applications can be found here on Familienportal.NRW.

If money is tight in your family and your income is not sufficient to provide for the family, you may be entitled to a monthly child supplement in addition to child benefit. Find out here on the Familienportal.NRW under which conditions you can receive child supplement and how to apply for it.

Mothers and fathers can take part of their parental leave between their child's 3rd and 8th birthday. For parental leave taken after your child's 3rd birthday, please note the following:

• If your child was born before July 1, 2015, you can transfer a maximum of 12 months to the period after the 3rd birthday. You must register your parental leave at least 7 weeks before the planned start date. Protection against dismissal begins 8 weeks before the start of parental leave.
• If your child was born after July 1, 2015, you are entitled to a maximum of 24 months of parental leave from the 3rd birthday. You must register your parental leave after the 3rd birthday 13 weeks before the planned start date. Protection against dismissal begins 14 weeks before the start of parental leave.

The employer must approve your application. A rejection would only be possible for urgent operational reasons. You can find more useful information on parental leave here on the Familienportal.NRW.

If your child is ill, they need special care. To ensure care during this time, you can apply for children's sick days.

From 2024, the following applies:

• Parents with statutory health insurance can claim 15 children's sick days per child with statutory health insurance. A parent can claim a maximum of 35 children's sick days per calendar year.
• Single parents are entitled to 30 working days per child, up to a maximum of 70 working days per calendar year.
• Parents who are admitted to a hospital together with their sick child are also entitled to child sickness benefit for the period of co-admission. These days are not counted towards the 15 actual children's sick days. The prerequisite is that the co-admission is medically necessary.
• In addition, there is some relief for parents: a visit to the doctor is only required from the fourth day of illness. Previously, parents had to present a certificate from the pediatrician's practice on the first day.

You can find more information and answers to the most frequently asked questions on the website of the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs. You can find a sample certificate for applying for daily child sickness benefits here.

All children and young people should have the opportunity to participate. If parents earn little, they can apply for benefits from the education and participation package, which opens up the opportunity to participate in many areas of education, culture and sport. The financial assistance can be used for participation in daycare and childcare, school and leisure activities. On this website of Familienportal.NRW we have compiled important information for you on the individual benefits, how to apply and an explanatory film.

During the coronavirus pandemic, with many lessons canceled and homeschooling, not all children have found it easy to learn well. The state and federal government are providing funding until the end of the 2022/2023 school year as part of the "Arrive and Catch Up" action program to help children catch up on their learning.

If your child needs additional support at school, your daughter or son can receive an education voucher. The Ministry of Education provides detailed information on this website, especially for parents and guardians.

Are you a single parent and do not receive any or regular maintenance for your child or children? Then you can apply for an advance on maintenance payments from the youth welfare office. You can find out what you need to know and an application on the Familienportal.NRW

Do you also feel like it's time for a family vacation to get away from it all and recharge your batteries? Perhaps you think you can't afford an expensive vacation. A cost-effective alternative to expensive individual vacations are the non-profit family holiday resorts. Never heard of them? Then find out about the offers on the Familienportal.NRW. Under certain conditions, you can receive a subsidy from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia at selected family holiday centers.