Who gets Kindergeld ?

All people who are resident in Germany and have their centre of life here in Germany benefit from the Kindergeld entitlement and receive the monthly payments, provided that all other requirements are met. From birth until the age of 18 you can basically count on the payment. From the age of 18 to the age of 21, children who have completed vocational training without a job also receive child benefit. Up to the age of 25, this also applies to children who are in training or studying or have not yet found a training place. Children who complete a voluntary social or ecological year are also entitled to child benefit payments from the family fund.

In principle, young adults from the age of 25 are no longer entitled to child benefit. This is the case before this age if the adults work full-time after completing an apprenticeship, for example. An exception is made for disabled children. If they cannot support themselves, they are still entitled toKindergeld after the age of 25.

Kindergeld Application

In Germany, the family fund is integrated into the Federal Employment Agency. Because of this you have to apply for child benefit there as well. 
We advise you to do this after the birth. 
Thanks to the practical online availability of all Kindergeld forms, this can be completed relatively quickly. 

Kindergeld for families with low income

In addition to the Kindergeld, the state also pays a supplement of 170 euros per child if couples or single parents earn very little money. However, certain conditions must be met for this to happen. For example, the child must not have reached the age of 25. Furthermore, the child must live in the household of the parents. There are many conditions. Enclosed we have listed the most important ones for you:

• Maximum possible monthly income for couples: 900 euros
• Maximum possible monthly income for single parents: 600 Euro
• Assets may not exceed the maximum income limit
• Child must not be married

Kindergeld im Studium

In principle, all students receive child benefit up to the age of 25. The child benefit entitlement exists despite the fact that the parents are of legal age. Therefore, they must also apply for child benefit at the local family fund. Under certain circumstances, however, it may also be the case that child benefit must be applied for by the person entitled to it. In this case, the child benefit is paid directly into the student’s account.

• Basic entitlement up to the age of 25
• Kindergeld application is made by the parents (please note exceptions)
• Transition period between two training periods is a maximum of four months
• Kindergeld amount: Between 204 and 235 euros (depending on the number of children of the parents entitled to child benefit)
• The amount of the remaining income is not important
• If you have already completed vocational training, you will not receive child benefit

When is child benefit available for foreigners?

In principle, nationals of EU countries and Switzerland as well as Germans are entitled to child benefit, provided they are employed in Germany or have their own place of residence in Germany. In principle, the legislator distinguishes between foreigners who are entitled to freedom of movement and foreigners who are not.

Child benefit for families entitled to freedom of movement

Nationals of the member states of the European Union, Switzerland and the European Economic Area are assigned to the families entitled to freedom of movement and, like Germans, are entitled to regular payments from the family fund. The same conditions apply as for German citizens. It is important here that the residence in Germany exists or that the habitual residence of the family fund can be proven in this country. In addition, the physical presence must exist for more than six months, otherwise there are no child benefit payments. If, however, there is a residence in Germany, the habitual residence does not have to be proven.

Child benefit claims for families not entitled to freedom of movement

All other foreign parents are counted among the families not entitled to freedom of movement. They receive child benefit for their own offspring, provided they have a settlement permit or residence permit. It must be clear from precisely these documents that gainful employment can be assumed. However, such gainful employment is not compulsory! If, on the other hand, the foreign parents stay in Germany only for the purpose of education and further education, there is basically no entitlement to child benefit from the family fund. If foreigners are tolerated in Germany, or if they are asylum seekers with only a residence permit, there is no child benefit either. The situation is different, however, in the case of refugees who are entitled to asylum and who are recognised refugees.