Child benefit: what is it and when do you get it

At first glance, the laws on child benefit seem a little complicated. We try to shed some light on the following. The child benefit serves to support the family and to ensure the child’s subsistence level. Child benefit is regulated by two laws, the income tax law and the federal child benefit law. The income tax law regulates the majority of child benefit claims, the federal child benefit law applies in certain cases, e.g. if you are a German citizen working as a development worker abroad >

How long is the child benefit granted??

First of all, child benefit is granted as a monthly benefit and is paid out as standard until the child is 18 years old. The promotion different their amount depending on the number of siblings etc. Under certain conditions, child benefit payments can be granted beyond the age of 18.

There are various prerequisites for receiving child benefit, which have to do with you, the applicant or parent of the child, and the child itself. The application for child benefit is always made by a parent. If one parent is entitled to the Income Tax Act and the other is entitled to the Federal Child Benefits Act, the entitlement to the Income Tax Act has priority.

Children who are orphans or do not know where theirs are parents stop, can apply for funding for themselves. In this case, however, there cannot be a third person who is entitled to child benefit.

How much is the child benefit??

The amount of child benefit essentially depends on the number of children. For the first child, the child benefit is e.g. at currently EUR 184 per month, but will be gradually increased to EUR 190 by the beginning of 2016.

Here are the individual child benefit amounts that will apply from the beginning of 2016:

First and second child: EUR 190 per month
Third child: EUR 196 per month
From the fourth child: EUR 221 per month

When do you get child benefit?

Requirements for children

Child benefit is generally paid for all children who are resident or habitually resident in Germany. However, they must be in a certain relationship with the applicant, i.e. you. To receive support for your child, the child must

either be related to you in the first degree (adopted or adopted also applies)
be your spouse’s child (stepchild)
be the child of your registered partner
Grandchildren that you have included in your household
Foster children if the legal requirements are met

Requirements for applicants

The requirements for entitlement to child benefit differ depending on your citizenship, where you work and live and where you are subject to tax.

German citizen

As a German citizen, you have a basic right to child benefit in two cases:

You have your residence or regular residence in Germany
You live abroad, but for some reason you are subject to unlimited income tax in Germany or you will become Tax office treated like this

If you are employed as a German citizen abroad, in particular the EU, you must observe special regulations and notification requirements.

If you live abroad and are not subject to unlimited income tax in Germany, you can receive child benefit as a social benefit under the Federal Child Benefits Act if you meet one of the following requirements

You have an insurance relationship with the Federal Employment Agency
You work as a development worker or missionary
You receive a pension under German law

Other citizenships

As a foreigner, you are also entitled to child benefit in Germany under certain conditions, namely

If you have a valid settlement permit in Germany. Certain other residence permits also apply
If you are resident in Germany and come from a member state of the European Union and the European Economic Area and the law on the general free movement of Union citizens applies or if you are a Swiss citizen. Your entitlement to child benefit is then independent of a settlement or residence permit
If you come from Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Morocco, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia or Turkey and are considered workers in Germany. This is regulated by the respective intergovernmental agreements
If you are a recognized asylum seeker