Child benefit

Further requirements

• Parents are entitled to child benefit if they are resident or ordinarily resident in Germany.
• Child benefit is independent of the parents' income.
• Only one person can receive child benefit for the same child.
• The person in whose household the child lives or, if the child has its own household, the parent who pays the greater share of the maintenance is always entitled to child benefit.

Application

• Child benefit must be applied for in writing at the relevant family benefits office (the family service of the employment agency). Once the application has been received, it will be paid retrospectively for a maximum of six months.
• Website of the responsible family benefits office
• Applications and information sheets
• Application forms are available in German and English.
• You can apply for payment to yourself,
  
  • if you are an orphan or do not know the whereabouts of your parents or
  • in exceptional cases, if you run your own household and do not receive any maintenance from your parents.
• The payment of child benefit ends with the last month of examinations, even if you are still enrolled.

Child benefit and disability

If you have a disability that occurred before the age of 25 and you are unable to fully support yourself (which is likely to be the case for students), your parents can continue to receive child benefit after your 25th birthday.

Child benefit abroad

Under certain conditions, child benefit is also available for Germans living abroad or for parents with other nationalities. You can find more information on the website of the Federal Employment Agency.

Child benefit and working

If you are working and are in initial training, there is no income limit for child benefit. If you are in a second course of education (e.g. MA), you should make sure that you do not work more than 20 hours a week so as not to jeopardise your child benefit entitlement.

Child benefit and semesters on leave

If you have to interrupt your education temporarily due to illness, this does not prevent you from receiving child benefit. However, you must present a medical certificate stating the illness and its expected end date. If you have taken a leave of absence due to illness and you recover before the end of the semester of leave, your parents can continue to receive child benefit for you until the start of the following semester.
If you are ill for a longer period of time, you must contact the family benefits office so that they can decide whether you can continue to be taken into account. You must then submit a medical certificate from a public health officer or similar, which must again state the expected end of the illness.
Your parents can also continue to receive child benefit for you if you take a leave of absence to study abroad, complete an internship or prepare for an exam.

However, you will no longer be entitled to child benefit if you take a leave of absence to become more involved in student committees.

You can find all the details on the Studis Online page.

Child benefit and pregnancy

• If you are pregnant, please refer to our brochure "Studying with a child" if you would like to take a leave of absence.
• You can also apply for child benefit for your child after the birth. Simultaneous receipt is possible.

Child benefit and doctorate

You can also receive child benefit during your doctoral studies if the doctorate immediately follows the completion of your studies

Child benefit and marriage

If you are married, your parents can continue to receive child benefit if your spouse is unable to provide the "predominant part" of the maintenance.

Child benefit and transitional period

Child benefit is also paid for a transitional period of four months between two periods of study (e.g. between BA and MA). Information on this can be foundon the "Studis Online" website.

• the legal basis: the Income Tax Act (EstG) and the Federal Child Benefit Act (BKGG)
• Helpful detailed information can be found in the instructions on child benefit for the family benefits office.