Child Allowance (KiZ)

The child supplement is calculated individually for each child. You will receive a maximum of 250 euros per child per month. If you have several children, a total amount is paid out. It is usually transferred to the person who also receives the child benefit.

The monthly income of the parents or cohabiting partners is added together to determine whether you are entitled to the child allowance. As a single parent, you must have earned at least EUR 600 and, as a couple, at least EUR 900 gross on average in the past six months.

There is no maximum eligibility limit on income. The Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency decides on each application on a case-by-case basis.

Child allowance is calculated on the basis of the following factors:

• Your family income
• Your accommodation costs (rent or ownership)
• The size of your family
• The age of your children

The higher your income, the lower your child allowance.

Your income includes:

• Income from self-employed work or employment subject to social security contributions, short-time working allowances
• Unemployment benefit I
• Maternity pay
• Sick pay
• Parent allowance
• Student support (BAföG)
• Child support payments

Your income does not include:

• Child benefit
• Housing benefit
• Unemployment benefit II
• Asylum seeker’s benefit

Tip: You can use the child allowance online test to check whether you are entitled to the child allowance.

To apply for a child supplement, you should have various documents ready:

• Application form for the child supplement
• Wage or salary statements for the last 6 months including short-time working allowance
• Pension certificate
• Parental allowance notice
• BAföG notification
• Proof of maintenance
• Notice of housing benefit, if applicable
• Current proof of accommodation costs (e.g. rent certificate)

Depending on your living situation, the family benefits office may ask you for further documents.

It is best to use the option of applying for child supplement online. There you will be guided through the application and extensive help texts are available.

The child allowance is granted for a period of six months, after which you will need to reapply. If there have been no changes in your circumstances, you can fill out a short application.

Child allowance short application (arbeitsagentur.de)

If you receive a child allowance, you have to notify the Family Benefits Office of certain changes to your circumstances.

Examples of possible changes:

• Another child has been born.
• Someone moves in with you or moves out.
• Your family circumstances change because you get married or separate from your partner.
• The child for which you receive the child allowance gets married or enters a civil partnership.

If one of these statements applies to you, please fill out the change of circumstances form. Make sure you sign the form, and then return it by post to your Family Benefits Office.

Download form (PDF)

Important: You must notify your Family Benefits Office immediately. If you do not notify your Family Benefits Office at all or only at a later date, you may be asked to repay your child allowance and a penalty may even be imposed.

You can apply for the child allowance from the Family Benefits Office. You can apply online, download the application from the Family Benefits Office website or request the form from your Family Benefits Office.

Child allowance application

Leaflets and forms provided by the Family Benefits Office – Federal Employment Agency (arbeitsagentur.de)

Tip: Would you prefer to speak to someone in person? Feel free to arrange a video meeting or book a face-to-face meeting.

You can find the Family Benefits Office in your local town or city here.

The Family Benefits Office calculates your child allowance on a case-by-case basis. Here you will find some calculation examples:

1) Single parent with 1 child

If a single parent pays EUR 490 rent with bills, the family will receive a child allowance if they earn between EUR 1,400 to EUR 2,000 gross (child aged 6).

2) Single parent with 2 children

If rent with bills is EUR 790, the gross salary of the single parent can be between EUR 1,100 and EUR 2,600 (children aged 6 and 8).

3) Couple with 2 children

1. In the case of a couple with 2 children and rent with bills of EUR 690, the joint gross income can be between EUR 1,500 and EUR 3,400 (children aged 6 and 8).
2.  If rent with bills is EUR 990, the gross salary of the couple can be between EUR 1,900 and EUR 3,800 (children aged 6 and 8).

4) Couple with 3 children

If a couple with 3 children pay rent with bills of EUR 990, the couple can earn between EUR 1,400 and EUR 4,400 gross (children aged 6, 8 and 10) and be eligible for the child allowance.

Source: Child allowance flyer, January 2022 (arbeitsagentur.de)

No. The child allowance is subject to minimum income thresholds. In other words, as a single parent you need to earn at least EUR 600 gross and as a couple at least EUR 900 gross. EUR 538 does not meet the minimum income threshold. Please check whether you are entitled to other benefits such as unemployment benefit II or housing benefit.

Changes in income in the six-month approval period have no effect on your entitlement to the child allowance. If you would like to notify the Family Benefits Office of any other changes, please fill in the following form, sign it and send it to your Family Benefits Office.

Download form (PDF)

Yes. Your entitlement to the child allowance also makes it possible to claim other benefits, such as an exemption from nursery school fees or daycare costs.

Please contact your local Youth Welfare Office for more information on exemptions from nursery school fees or daycare costs.

Other costs that can be reimbursed:

• costs for school, nursery school or daycare trips
• EUR 156 per academic year for school resources
• costs of transport to and from school
• costs of learning support and extra tuition
• lunch at school, daycare, nursery school or other childcare facilities
• a EUR 15 monthly contribution to costs of children

engaging in social and cultural activities, such as sports clubs or music school

Please contact your local authority for more information on claiming these benefits. Find out which authority to contact here.

No. As a rule, it is not possible to claim the child allowance and unemployment benefit II at the same time. If in doubt, contact your Family Benefits Office.

You can check whether you are entitled to the child allowance using the simple child allowance online tool.

The child allowance is usually paid to the parent who also receives child benefit.