Child benefit table 2020: how much is it, child benefit increase

Child benefit in Germany ensures the basic care of your children from birth and is paid at least until their 18th birthday. It makes a valuable contribution to your financial relief. In the following article, we explain the child benefit table for 2020.

In this article

Child allowance can be used to finance food, school attendance and other child expenses. Families with medium and small incomes benefit from this in particular. The amount of child benefit and the corresponding child allowance is regularly adjusted. First, you will receive the money over the course of a calendar year. The tax office then automatically checks as part of the annual income tax return to determine whether the child allowances or child benefits are cheaper for you. But how much child benefit are you entitled to in 2020? When exactly are the payment dates due? In the following we will get to the bottom of these questions and give useful ones Tips for the application for child benefit.

How much is child benefit in 2020?

The amount of child benefit is graded according to the number of your children.

This child benefit table gives you an overview from 01.01.2020:

child	Child benefit in euros
1 child	204
2nd child	204
3rd child	210
from 4th child	235

Tip: This graduation also includes children who live in another household. They are referred to as so-called "counting children" and can cause more child benefit to be used for the children in their own household.

The following child benefit table shows you the total monthly amount that you are entitled to:

Number of Children	Child benefit in euros
1 child	204
2nd child	408
3rd child	618
from 4th child	853

There will be a child benefit increase in 2020?

On June 1st, 2019 there was the last child benefit increase. Child benefit for 2020 will not be increased any further.

How much is the child supplement for 2020?

The child allowance is not expected to increase further in 2020. It is currently € 183 a month. It aims to promote participation and training achievements of socially disadvantaged families.

What is the child allowance in 2020?

The child allowance is a fixed amount that parents can earn per child per year without having to pay taxes. The amount will not be paid out. It is deducted retrospectively from taxable income for the year at the end of each year. However, only tax classes 1 to 4 are entitled to the child allowance. Tax classes 5 and 6 are not entitled to this.

In 2020, the child allowance is expected to increase from € 7,620 to € 7,812.

How is the payment made??

monthly payment of child benefit
Payment based on the child benefit number
directly to the beneficiary’s bank account

Tip: In the public sector, the payment is made together with the monthly salary. However, if employees in the public sector receive an additional child allowance, it will be paid out by the family fund for workers and employees.

Payment dates for child benefit 2020

The exact transfer date depends on the child benefit number that is assigned after the successful application. The number can be found on the account statement and in the approved child benefit application. When you can count on child benefit depends on the last number:

at the beginning of the month: final digits 0, 1, 2 and 3
in the middle of the month: final digit 4, 5 or 6
at the end of the month: final digits 7, 8 and 9

For the first payment, it doesn’t matter which day of the month your child is born. You will receive the full amount of the respective month.

An overview of the dates

Transfer dates for decipher 0:

January 3, 2018
February 5, 2018
March 3, 2018
April 2, 2018
May 6, 2018
June 4, 2018
July 3, 2018
August 5, 2018
September 4, 2018
October 5, 2018
November 4, 2018
December 3, 2018

Transfer dates for decipher 1:

January 8, 2018
February 6, 2018
March 4, 2018
April 3, 2018
May 7, 2018
June 5, 2018
July 6, 2018
August 6, 2018
September 7, 2018
October 7, 2018
November 5, 2018
December 4, 2018

Transfer dates for decipher 2:

January 9, 2018
February 7, 2018
March 5, 2018
April 6, 2018
May 8, 2018
June 8, 2018
July 7, 2018
August 7, 2018
September 8, 2018
October 8, 2018
November 6, 2018
December 7, 2018

Transfer dates for decipher 3:

January 10, 2018
February 10, 2018
March 6, 2018
April 7, 2018
May 11, 2018
June 9, 2018
July 8, 2018
August 10, 2018
September 9, 2018
October 9, 2018
November 9, 2018
December 8, 2018

Transfer dates for decipher 4:

January 13, 2018
February 11, 2018
March 10, 2018
April 8, 2018
May 13, 2018
June 10, 2018
July 9, 2018
August 11, 2018
September 10, 2018
October 12, 2018
November 10, 2018
December 9, 2018

Transfer dates for decipher 5:

January 14, 2018
February 12, 2018
March 11, 2018
April 9, 2018
May 14, 2018
June 15, 2018
July 10, 2018
August 12, 2018
September 11, 2018
October 14, 2018
November 11, 2018
December 10, 2018

Transfer dates for decipher 6:

January 15, 2018
February 13, 2018
March 12, 2018
April 15, 2018
May 15, 2018
June 16, 2018
July 13, 2018
August 14, 2018
September 14, 2018
October 15, 2018
November 12, 2018
December 11, 2018

Transfer dates for decipher 7:

January 16, 2018
February 14, 2018
March 13, 2018
April 16, 2018
May 18, 2018
June 17, 2018
July 15, 2018
August 17, 2018
September 16, 2018
October 16, 2018
November 13, 2018
December 14, 2018

Transfer dates for decipher 8:

January 17, 2018
February 17, 2018
March 16, 2018
April 17, 2018
May 19, 2018
June 18, 2018
July 16, 2018
August 18, 2018
September 18, 2018
October 19, 2018
November 16, 2018
December 15, 2018

Transfer dates for decipher 9:

January 21, 2018
February 20, 2018
March 17, 2018
April 20, 2018
May 25, 2018
June 22, 2018
July 17, 2018
August 19, 2018
September 21, 2018
October 21, 2018
November 17, 2018
December 16, 2018

Who can get child benefit?

German citizens who live in Germany with their children
German nationals abroad who are not employed there
foreign nationals residing in Germany only under certain conditions
Parents and adoptive parents
under certain conditions also foster parents, grandparents, siblings and step parents
if there is no entitlement to child-related benefits abroad

How do I have to apply for child benefit??

Child benefit is a state benefit. It is therefore imperative that you submit an application as soon as your child is born. According to Section 67 of the Income Tax Act, you must apply for the benefit in writing from your family fund. In order to apply for child benefit, you need your tax identification number and that of your child. In contrast to the past, the presentation of a birth certificate is no longer necessary.

However, if you are employed in the public service, you must submit an application for child benefit to your compensation office.

The application is made once. Child benefit is paid until your child reaches the age of majority.

But you are also entitled to child benefit for a child of legal age if he has not yet completed any vocational training or has not yet completed a degree. The age limit is 25.

Checks of the requirements

The conditions for this are checked at regular intervals while the child benefit is being granted. The family fund checks whether the children may be abroad or still live in the household and whether the studies or school or vocational training are still ongoing. As a beneficiary of child benefit, you are obliged to cooperate with the information.

Is there a limitation period for the child benefit entitlement??

Child benefit is generally time-barred after 4 years. But since 2018, the deadline for retroactive payout has shortened significantly. The applications are taken into account in the assessment process, but the money is paid out in the collection process 6 months before the family fund receives the application.