Children's Allowance - Kindergeld in Germany

Germany offers a variety of children allowances and benefits. Kindergeld is probably the most well known of these.

Expatriate residents of Germany are, like Germans, entitled to Kindergeld if they have children. This is an allowance (also called a Child Benefit) from the German government to help defray some of the cost of raising children. It can run from €194 to €225 per child per month, and is usually made by a fund transfer into a German bank account.

Just about any person living in Germany with children can get the Kindergeld, whether employed, self employed or independent. You get it as a rule until the children turn 18, though it can continue until they are 25 if they are still in school or meet other requirements for an extension. Starting in January 2025 the benefit has been raised to €194 per month for each of the first two children, €200 for the third child and €225 for each subsequent one.

Adopted and foster children qualify you for the Kindergeld, as do children of your spouse and your grandchildren if they live in your household. Some people living abroad may also be eligible for Kindergeld if they meet certain German obligations or other requirements. You can find out about the exact requirements from the German authorities.

In most cases it is the parents who are entitled to the money, not the children, though an exception can be made in the case of orphans, or parents whose whereabouts are unknown.

Since 2016 an application for Kindergeld must include the child's ID number (steuerliche Identifikationsnummer). The new application forms have been changed accordingly. This number is normally issued by the Federal Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steueren – BZSt) shortly after a child is born and registered at the local Registry Office (Einwohnermeldeamt) in Germany. In the case of immigrant children, the number is assigned when the child is registered at the Einwohnermeldeamt.

Although the Federal Office has been automatically issuing a ID number to children since 2008, they are just now requiring the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) to have the number on record for anyone who collects benefits.

A child's Tax ID number can be found on a taxpayer's Withholding Card (Lohnsteuerkarte) or on the income tax summary (Einkommensteuerbescheid) sent by the local authorities (Finanzamt) after they review and approve the yearly declaration.

A child's ID number has to be submitted and put on record at the Family Benefits Office by all beneficiaries. This also includes a ID number for children who were born before 2008 and who may not yet have been issued ID number. The authorities will be contacting beneficiaries to inform them of this new development. It is possible to get the required ID number by contacting the local office. Failure to comply may result in having to pay back benefits.

You apply for Kindergeld at the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) of the local Labor Office (Agentur für Arbeit), with written forms that must be signed. Another party can make the application if you grant them power of attorney.

Once your employment ends or you or your children leave Germany, you must notify the agency that pays you Kindergeld to stop the payments. Failure to make such notification will give rise to claims for repayment of any amounts improperly received