Child benefit payment

The responsibility lies with the Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency.

If you are a member of the civil service, your employer's benefits office may also be responsible.

• German/German citizen according to Article 116 of the Basic Law (GG)
• Residence in Germany or abroad if you are subject to unlimited income tax liability in Germany
• Foreigners living in Germany can receive child benefit if they have a valid settlement permit.
• Certain residence permits may also entitle you to child benefit.

The requirements for child benefit in detail are that

• the child is under the age of 18 (under certain conditions, child benefit can also be applied for and received for children who are of full age),
• the child is regularly cared for by the beneficiary and lives in their household (this also applies to stepchildren, grandchildren or foster children) and
• the place of residence is in Germany, another EU country, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland or Switzerland. You can find out more on the page Child benefit for people living in or from abroad.

• Article 116 of the Basic Law (GG)

Child benefit is only granted upon written application.

Child benefit applications and notifications of changes can also be submitted conveniently via the Family Benefits Office's online child benefit service.

• Child benefit online service

Documents are required. Which documents (e.g. birth certificate, proof of the child's schooling/vocational training, certificate of severe disability) must be enclosed with the child benefit application depends on the individual case. Please contact the responsible office.

From January 1, 2016, a prerequisite for entitlement to child benefit is that the identification number of the entitled person and the child is provided to the responsible office.

There are no fees.

Deadlines may have to be observed. Please contact the responsible office.

Due to the payment restriction of § 70 para. 1 sentence 2 EStG, child benefit can be paid retroactively for up to 6 months from the date of application. The date of receipt of the application by the family benefits office is decisive.

• § Section 70 (1) sentence 2 of the Income Tax Act (EStG)

Child benefit is paid to the person in whose household the child lives. If the child lives with both parents, they can decide which of them should receive the child benefit. The competent authority checks at certain intervals whether the conditions for entitlement to child benefit are still met and whether the correct amount of child benefit is being paid.

Further information such as information sheets, application forms and local contacts can be found on the website of the Federal Employment Agency.

The service telephone of the Family Benefits Office is available free of charge from Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the following number: 0800 4 5555 30
Announcements on the payment dates for child benefit and child supplement can be obtained around the clock on the toll-free number: 0800 4 5555 33

• Pages of the Federal Employment Agency

• §§ Sections 31, 52 and 62 - 78 of the Income Tax Act (EStG)
• Federal Child Benefit Act (BKGG)