Family benefits

In Germany, aside from German citizens, the following people have a right to the child allowance:

• People from the EU and the EEA (European Economic Area)
• People from states with which an applicable treaty exists (Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia)

In addition, people with the following residence permits have a right to the child allowance:

• Permanent settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis)
• Permanent EU residency
• EU blue card
• Residence permit with permission to work (please note the exceptions below)
• People with the following are not eligible:
• Residence permit for studies
• Residence permit for an apprenticeship
• Temporary residence permit (Aufenthaltsgestattung)
• Toleration (Duldung)

You can also get advice via chat or at an MBE (Migrationsberatung [Immigration counselling]) office. Family counselling agencies can also provide information about the child allowance.

The child allowance amounts to 250 euro per month. The child allowance is paid independently of your income. If you receive other social benefits, such as Citizen's benefit (Bürgergeld), however, the child allowance is considered “income”.

The child allowance is paid to the person who cares for the child. If the child lives with both parents, they can decide who should receive the child allowance. The child allowance is only paid once per child.

The child allowance is paid by the family benefit offices of the employment agencies (Agenturen für Arbeit).

The child allowance is paid for all children through the age of 18, that is, until their 18th birthday.

For children up to 20 years old, the child allowance is paid if they are seeking employment.

For children up to 25 years old, the child allowance is paid if they are in training.

You must apply for the child allowance through the family benefit office of your local Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit).

The application consists of two forms:

• The application for the child benefit (Kindergeldantrag) and
• the annex about the child (Anlage Kind)

You can pick up and turn in these forms in person at the family benefit office of the employment agency, or print them out online and submit them to the family benefit office.

In order to receive the parental allowance, you must fulfil the following prerequisites:

• You have a permanent settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis), a permanent residence permit for the EU or another residence permit which allows for employment
• You care for and raise your child yourself after it is born
• You live with your child in the same household
• You do not work more than 30 hours per week (only for ElterngeldPlus)

People with a temporary residence permit (Aufenthaltsgestattung) or toleration (Duldung) have no right to the parental allowance (Elterngeld or ElterngeldPlus) - with an exception for people with a Tolerated Stay Permit for Work (Beschäftigungsduldung).

The parental allowance is no less than 300 euro per month and no more than 1800 per month. The amount is based on you net income prior to the child's birth. For a net income of:

• 1,240 euro or more, you receive a 65% parental allowance
• 1,200 - 1,240 euro, you receive a 66% parental allowance
• 1,000 - 1,200 euro, you receive 67% parental allowance
• For less than 1,000 euro per month, the amount rises by stages up to 100%.

If you had no income whatsoever, you receive the minimum payment of 300 euro.

The parental allowance 'plus' is no less than 150 euro per month and no more than 900 per month.

Families with multiple small children receive an additional sibling bonus or multiple birth supplement.

Parents can receive the parental allowance (Elterngeld) for up to 14 months and ElterngeldPlus for longer. The parental allowance is paid per month of the child's life. The parents can freely decide between themselves who would like to stay at home and for how long. One parent can receive the allowance for a minimum of two and a maximum of twelve months.

Parents who live apart can also receive the parental allowance. Single parents can receive the full 14 months of parental allowance.

The application for parental allowance must be made in writing. Each state has set up parental allowance offices (Elterngeldstellen) for this purpose.

The application for parental leave prior to the child's third birthday must be submitted to your employer no later than seven weeks before the start of your parental leave.

If you would like to take parental leave between the child's third and eighth birthdays, you must request this 13 weeks before the start of your parental leave.