Financial Support for Families
Families in Germany receive financial support – from child benefit and parental allowance to tax relief.
We have summarised the most important family benefits for you here. If you are employed, additional support options are available to you. You can find more information here.
Child Benefit
Child benefit is one of the most important financial benefits for families in Germany. It is paid for every child living in Germany, regardless of how much the parents earn. Currently, the state transfers 255 euros per child per month. Child benefit is paid until the child reaches the age of 18. If the child is still studying or in training, child benefit is even paid until their 25th birthday.
To receive child benefit, you must submit a written application. The Federal Employment Agency provides more detailed information with templates to download and a guide to your local family benefits office.
Parental Allowance
After the birth of your child, you may wish to stay at home for a few months. If you take a break from work or reduce your working hours, the state will compensate for the loss of income and pay you parental allowance.
There are three different types of parental allowance: basic parental allowance (Basiselterngeld), parental allowance plus (ElterngeldPlus) and partnership bonus (Partnerschaftsbonus). These types can be combined as needed to suit you best. How long parental allowance is paid and how much you receive depends on your personal circumstances and the type you choose.
The parental allowance calculator gives you an approximate estimate of how much parental allowance you will receive. All the important information about the three types is summarised on the website of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
Citizens of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are also entitled to parental allowance if they live and work in Germany. The same applies to all other citizens if they have a residence permit that entitles them to live and work in Germany.
To apply for parental allowance, you must submit a written application to the relevant parental allowance office. The parental allowance offices can also advise you on this. An overview of the parental allowance offices can be found here.