Apply for child benefit

The payment of child benefit is not dependent on your income. It amounts to 255.00 euros for each child.

In principle, you are entitled to child benefit from the birth of your child until their 18th birthday. You may also be entitled to child benefit after that, but only up to the child's 25th birthday:

• Children between the ages of 18 and 21: You receive child benefit if
  
  • your child is not gainfully employed and
  • is registered as a jobseeker.
• Children between the ages of 18 and 25: You will receive child benefit if
  
  • Your child is in training (school/work/study),
  • your child is in a transitional period lasting a maximum of four months, for example between leaving school and vocational training or a recognized voluntary service,
  • your child cannot start or continue his/her training because he/she has not found a training place,
  • your child is completing a recognized voluntary service,
  • your child has already completed initial vocational training but is still in training, for example, and is working a maximum of 20 hours per week on the side.

If your child has a disability and is unable to support themselves financially, you are still entitled to child benefit after their 25th birthday. However, the disability must have occurred before the child's 25th birthday and be the reason why your child is unable to support him/herself financially.

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

Requirements

Requirements that apply to you as parents:

• You are subject to unlimited income tax liability in Germany or are assessed as such. This also applies to nationals of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland. Domestic residence is not mandatory.
• Further requirements apply to EU or EEA nationals who move to Germany from August 2019. From the 4th month after entry, the requirements of the Freedom of Movement Act must be met. EU citizens are entitled to freedom of movement if they
  
  • are self-employed or employed
  • are looking for work or are involuntarily unemployed
  • can derive their right to freedom of movement from a family member
  • have sufficient means of subsistence and adequate health insurance cover or
  • have acquired a permanent right of residence.

• You are not a citizen of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, but have a valid settlement permit or a specific other residence title that entitles you to pursue gainful employment or
• You are a legally recognized refugee or entitled to asylum.

Requirements that apply to your child:

• Your child must be resident or ordinarily resident in Germany or in another EU or EEA state or Switzerland.
• You may also be entitled to child benefit if your child lives in a household in the EU, EEA or Switzerland, but you or the other parent are subject to unlimited income tax liability in Germany or are assessed as such.

What documents do I need?

• The tax identification number of the child or children
• The tax identification number of the parent applying for child benefit
• Possibly additional documents
  

  For example, proof of the child's education/vocational training, certificate of severe disability.