Child Benefits in Germany [2024 Kindergeld] - Navigate Germany

Germany is famous for providing the best facilities for parents and children, and kindergarten (Child benefit) is one of them. Parents in Germany get financial support for their families in Germany irrespective of income level.

What is Kindergeld (Child Benefit)?

Parents in Germany receive a fixed amount monthly from the family benefit office. This amount is used to raise their children and is called kindergeld (child benefit).

Eligibility Criteria to Receive Kindergeld

All parents in Germany can get kindergeld, but here are the eligibility criteria to receive kindergeld;

• The place of residence must be German
• Child’s age must be 18 years, but 25 in some cases.
• You must be a taxpayer.
• You are taking care of your child yourself.
• You are caring for someone else’s child as a guardian or grandparent.

Child Benefits Beyond 18 Years

Here are exceptions to receive child benefit after 18 years. You can receive child benefits if;

• If the child is disabled, you will receive kindergeld until the child is 25
• Your child is studying or getting some training until the age of 25 or completion of the degree or vocational qualification.
• If your child is jobless or registered with the employment agency, you will get kindergeld until the child is 21.

Requirements to Receive Kindergeld

Here are the requirements to claim your child’s benefit;

• Married couples
• Separated couples
• Guardian
• Place of residence

Married Couples

If you are married, discuss this with your spouse and decide who will get the kindergeld as only one parent can claim the child’s benefit.

Separated Couples

If you are married but separated due to disputes or divorce, the parent who has custody of the child will claim the child benefit to nourish the child.

Guardian

If you are looking after a child as a guardian but not as a parent, you can claim child benefits to meet the expenses.

Place of Residence

You can get kindergeld if your place of residence is Germany and you are a German or EU citizen. If you are not a German or EU citizen and Germany is not a place of residence, you must get a settlement or a temporary residence permit to claim child benefits.

Child Benefit Amount

The amount of kindergeld is transferred to the parent’s or guardian’s bank account for all children in a single transaction. It is your choice to receive child benefits in the form of cash. The amount of kindergeld is the same for all parents irrespective of their earnings. See the table below to find the amount of kindergeld according to the number of children you have;

Required Documents to Claim Child Benefit

Here is the documents you must submit with your kindergeld application form.

• Valid passport and ID document
• Your residence permit
• Proof of residency registration
• Original birth certificate along with the translation if it is not in German
• Your tax ID and child’s tax ID number

Process To Apply for Child Benefit

Apply for the kindergeld online at the Federal Employment Agency’s website, the family benefits office, or the local labor office. Here are the steps to apply for child benefits in Germany.

• Get the application form online or from the office and fill it out carefully.
• Attach the required documents with the application form.
• Submit the filled and signed form. Both parents must sign the application form.

If you want to apply through someone else, you must give the power of attorney to look into the matter on your behalf. If you work in an institute or organization, then your employer should also fill out a portion of your application form. You cannot apply for the child benefit via phone, email, or an oral application.

Child Benefit Application Processing Time

You will get a reply from the concerned authorities within three weeks to two months after your application submission. You will get your child benefit in your bank account if there is no issue in your application and it is approved. In case of rejection, you can submit an appeal and supporting documents within one month.

Deadline to Apply For Child Benefit

You must apply for child benefits within six months; otherwise, you can only get it for the last six months.

Other Allowances and Deductions

Germany supports parents not only with kindergeld but also with many other allowances and benefits. In this section, we will share information about allowances and deductions.

Federal Parental Allowance

Federal parental allowance (Elterngeld) is given to new parents so they can rest and spend quality time with the new family member. This is enormous financial support for new parents to cover the expenses and losses caused during the child’s birth.

Tax-Free Allowance

A tax-free allowance is given to parents in Germany. If you are married, you will get 6024 Euros per child as of 2023, but this amount is 4260 Euros per child for single, separated, or divorced parents. To get entitled to the tax-free allowance, your income tax will be assessed, during which your received amount will be compared to the saved amount for your child, and then they will select the suitable option for you.

Supplementary Allowance

Parents can get a monthly supplementary allowance of 250 Euros for unmarried children under 25.

Eligibility to Receive Supplementary Allowance

You must fulfill these conditions to receive a supplementary allowance

• Receiving kindergeld for your child.
• Earning less than the maximum income limit depends on the cost of living of the parents.
• Earning 900 Euros per month without any deductions. If you are a single or separated parent, you must earn at least 600 Euros.

How to Calculate Maximum Income Limit and Supplementary Allowance?

The family benefit office will calculate the income limit and supplementary allowance while processing your application. They will assess your income and assets, and you might receive payments for supplies, school trips, fees, transport, and meals. They will deduct the other expenses from the supplementary allowance if your child receives any.

Child Sickness Benefit

If your child is ill or has some disease, you can claim the child sickness benefit to take care of your child. The Statutory Health Insurance Company will support you to get extended leaves from the work office.

Maintenance Advance

Unterhaltsvorschuss is a German term used for single parents who do not get any support from their spouse. They can claim the maintenance advance given to the single parents to meet their child’s expenses.

Amount of Maintenance Advance

The amount of maintenance advance depends upon your child’s age, as given in the table below (as of 2024);

Required Documents For Maintenance Advance

Attach the following documents with your application form and submit them to the local youth welfare office.

• Valid ID
• Child’s birth certificate
• Registration certificate
• Residence permit
• Proof of being single (separation or divorce-proof)
• Translation (if documents are not in German)

The Process to Apply For Maintenance Advance

Visit the local or regional youth welfare office to apply for the maintenance advance. Get the application form, fill it out, and attach the required documents. And submit it to the representative who will process your application.

Tax Deductions

Here’s the good news: you can save the taxes if you are a parent in Germany by deducting your child’s expenses from the tax amount. These expenses might be 4000 Euros per year for daycare and 5000 Euros per year for school fees.

Is Kindergeld Tax-Free in Germany?

Yes, Kindergeld is tax-free. Being a parent or guardian, you must file a tax declaration yearly to enjoy benefits from tax savings. If you submit a tax declaration yearly, you will also enjoy benefits like childcare expenses and school fees.

Key Considerations

Here are the key considerations to help yourself;

• Refrain from submitting the application form again and again. When you have a newborn, amend your previous application and submit a change notice.
• Inform the family benefit office if your location or marital status is changed.
• Share your employment termination with the agency paying you kindergarten or other benefits.
• Inform the family benefit office if you or your child is leaving Germany. Cancel your application and submit the change form to the office.

Final Words

Germany is very supportive of parents and families in Germany. Families living in germany get financial support to raise their children in the best way. Do not forget to apply for the child benefit within six months of your child’s birth and enjoy the amount of 250 Euros per month per child. You can apply for other benefits like supplementary allowance if you earn a low income.