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 to the relevant family benefits office (the family service of the employment agency). Once the application has been received, it will be paid retroactively 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
• Child benefit payments end with the last month of examinations, even if you are still enrolled at university

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 apply to students), your parents can continue to receive child benefit beyond 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 semester of leave

No child benefit is paid during the semester of leave.

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.