Child benefit in Germany

Child benefit or Kindergeld is a type of financial support the German government grants to parents under certain conditions to cover some of the costs of raising children. This article from Wise Business Group will mention the requirements for receiving child benefit in Germany.

Requirements for receiving child benefit in Germany

Prerequisites

If you have a child or children in Germany and you intend to receive an allowance for their upbringing, you must meet the following prerequisites:

• Be a resident of Germany.
• The child for whom you want to receive the allowance must live with you.
• Your child’s age should be less than 18 years. Otherwise, they should be studying or taking vocational training courses.
• If your child is of school age (6 to 16 years old), they must be enrolled in a school in Germany.

Documentation

The following documents, if any, are required to receive child benefits in Germany:

• Passport
• Birth certificate of the child (children)
• Residence permits

Procedures for Receiving Child Benefit in Germany

To receive Kindergeld in Germany, you must go through the following steps:

1. Filling out the application form

You can get a child benefit application form (Antrag auf Kindergeld) by visiting the local family benefits office (Familienkasse) in Germany. However, it is also possible to download the form from the website of this office. Then, you must fill out the desired form accurately and provide all the required information.

2. Attachment of supporting documents

In the second step, you must attach copies of relevant documents such as birth certificate, passport, and other required documents to your benefit application form.

3. Submitting the application

You must send the completed form with supporting documents to the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse). You can do this in person or by mail. Online submission to some offices is also possible.

4. Confirmation of the request

At this point, you need to wait for confirmation. The Familienkasse will process your application for child benefits in Germany as soon as it is received. Meeting all the requirements and the accuracy of the information provided, this office will approve your request.

5. Receiving child benefit (Kindergeld) in Germany

After the Familienkasse has approved your application for child benefits in Germany, you can receive Kindergeld payments. These payments are often made monthly.

6. Reporting the changes to the Family Benefits Office

You must notify the Familienkasse in Germany of any changes in your circumstances. For example, we can mention a change of address, change in family composition, or change in the amount of income.

7. Request for revision if necessary

If the Familienkasse in Germany does not approve your application for child benefit, you can appeal against this decision. For this, you should refer to the instructions provided by this office regarding how to submit an appeal.

Tips on receiving child benefit in Germany

You should note that the details and procedures for receiving children’s benefits may vary in different German cities. Therefore, we recommend you contact the Familienkasse office in your area to receive the most up-to-date information on this. You can also search for the information you need on their website. This office is usually a branch of the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit).

The amount of child benefit in Germany

In 2024, parents in Germany can receive an amount of 292 euros as a child benefit. This amount has increased by 42 euros compared to the previous year. This allowance is not only for the low-income class of society, but everyone in Germany can benefit from it. It doesn’t matter whether they are employees or self-employed or even have permanent or temporary residence in Germany.

If you need to get advice and get more information in this field, you can contact our team.

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An overview of the requirements and the way to receive child benefits in Germany

If you have children and live in Germany, you can receive an allowance from the government to cover the costs of raising your children.

Your child must live with you and be under 18 to receive this allowance. If they are over 18 years old, they must be studying or completing vocational training. Also, enrollment in a school in Germany is necessary for children aged 6 to 16.

First, you must get the benefit application form from the family benefits office and fill it out accurately. Then, submit the completed form with the required documents to the relevant office. This office will approve your application after reviewing the documents and information provided. As a result, you can receive a monthly benefit for raising your children, which amounts to 292 euros in 2024.

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Business advice in Germany

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