Child benefit

You can apply for child benefit online on the website of the Federal Employment Agency. Under the following links you will find the appropriate application and also have the opportunity to communicate changes:

• Apply for child benefit from birth
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• Apply for child support from age 18
• Notify changes

If you are employed in the public sector or receive pension benefits, you should ask your department or the compensation office whether you have to apply for child benefits there or at the family benefits office of the Federal Employment Agency.

The local family office of the Federal Employment Agency is responsible for child benefits.

You can find the family benefits office responsible for you and the associated contact details via the Service Office Finder of the Federal Employment Agency.

If you are employed in the public sector or receive pension benefits, you should ask your department or the compensation office whether you have to apply for child benefits there or at the family benefits office of the Federal Employment Agency.

If you live abroad but work in Germany, the responsibility of the Familienkasse is determined by special rules described in the fact sheet Kindergeld für Menschen im oder aus dem Ausland.

If you have a question about child benefits, you can contact the service telephone of the Federal Employment Agency:

• Call number 0800 4 5555 30
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• Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• The call is free of charge
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• Announcements about the payment date of child support you receive around the clock on the number 0800 4 5555 33 (also free of charge)

What is the child benefit?

Children go into the money. For diapers and baby equipment, clothing and food, later school supplies and hobbies come together handsome sums.

With the child benefit, the state supports parents and helps them to pay the additional expenses.

How much is the child benefit?

The child benefit was increased to 250 euros per child on January 1, 2023. The previous graduation of the child benefit amounts falls away. The child benefit in the amount of 250 euros is paid monthly for the first and all subsequent children. If you already receive or have applied for child benefit, you do not have to worry about anything. The amounts will be adjusted automatically and paid out at the new level from January 2023.

Up to what age of the child is child benefit paid?

In principle, you get child benefit from the birth of your child until his 18th birthday. Even after that, you may be entitled to child benefit.

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A payment of child benefit until 21 years is possible if

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• Your child is not gainfully employed and
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• is registered as seeking work
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Child benefit can be paid until your child's 25th birthday if

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• Your child is in training (school, work, study).
• Your child is doing a recognized voluntary service.
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• Your child is in a transition period lasting a maximum of 4 months, for example, between school graduation and vocational training or a recognized voluntary service.
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• Your child can not start or continue his education because he has not found a training place.
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• Your child has already completed initial vocational training, but continues to be in training, for example, and works up to 20 hours per week.

If your child has a disability and can not support himself financially alone, you are entitled to child benefit even after the 25th birthday of your child. However, the disability must have occurred before his 25th birthday and be causal for the fact that your child can not provide for themselves financially alone.

To whom is the child benefit paid?

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The child benefit is paid to you if your child lives in your sole household. If the child lives with both parents, you can jointly determine who of you should receive the child benefit.

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How is the child benefit paid?

Child benefit is paid monthly. The last number of your child benefit number (the so-called final number) determines when the corresponding amounts are transferred to your account. Here you can find an overview of the payment dates.

What is better, the child benefit or the child allowance?

All parents first get the child benefit. Whether the child benefit or the annual child allowance is more advantageous for you, the tax office determines automatically during the annual calculation of your income tax. This check is automatic and you do not have to apply for it. Child allowances are not paid out. They lead to the fact that you have to pay less tax.

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More information on special child allowances can be found here:

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• Child Benefit for Children with Disabilities
• Child benefit for people in or from abroad
• Paying child support to someone else

Further information to download

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• Child Benefit Fact Sheet
• Factsheets on child benefit in different languages
• Understanding child benefit: basic information from the Federal Employment Agency

Who gets the child benefit?

Child benefit can get:

• German nationals who live with their children in Germany.
• Foreign nationals living in Germany under certain conditions.
• German nationals, who live abroad.

Child benefit is paid to parents. This also includes adoptive parents. Child benefit can get under certain conditions stepparents, foster parents and siblings and grandparents. In special cases, a payment to the child itself is also possible.

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What information do I need for the application?

• The tax identification number of the child or children,
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• The tax identification number of the parent applying for child support,
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• possibly additional documents (for example, birth certificate, proof of school / vocational training of the child, severely disabled identity card)
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Can I apply for child benefit retroactively?

Yes, child benefit can be paid retroactively for up to 6 months. The prerequisite is that you were entitled to child benefit, but was not paid - for example, because you have not filed an application.

The duration of application processing varies from region to region. As a rule, it takes about 4 to 6 weeks. It is best to submit the application soon after the birth of your child.

Note: Use the online service of the Familienkasse to shorten the processing time.
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