How do I know if I am entitled to child benefit?

The child supplement is a financial support in Germany that provides targeted relief for families and is primarily intended to support families whose income is sufficient to cover their own needs, but not enough to fully meet the needs of their children.

It is a monthly allowance that is paid in addition to child benefit. The aim is to help families get off basic income support or to prevent them from falling into it in the first place. The child supplement is aimed at parents who have at least one child under the age of 25, live in their household and receive child benefit.

In order to receive the child supplement, certain income limits must be met, whereby both the parents' income and assets are taken into account.

Benefits of the child supplement:

• Helps to increase the financial security of families

• Supplements income and supports the basic needs of children

• Reduces the risk of falling into basic income support

The child supplement is therefore an important part of family support in Germany, ensuring that all children receive the necessary resources for healthy development.

Requirements for the child supplement

To apply for the child supplement, you must meet certain requirements. One basic requirement is that you already receive child benefit for your child. In addition, your income should be within a certain limit.

Income limits

The minimum monthly income for families is: - 600 euros for single parents - 900 euros for couples

However, the income must not be so high that the family's needs are completely covered, as the child supplement is intended to close this gap.

Further criteria

• Assets

  : Assets must not exceed certain exemption limits.

• Residence

  : You must live in Germany.

• Maximum duration

  : The child supplement can be granted for a maximum of 6 months. After that, a new application is necessary.

If you meet these child supplement requirements, nothing stands in the way of your application. Make sure you have the necessary documents ready to speed up the process. The more detailed the information, the faster your application for child supplement will be processed.

Instructions: How to apply for the child supplement

The application for child supplement can be submitted both online and in paper form. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you complete the application correctly:

1. Checking the requirements: Before you apply for the child supplement, make sure you meet the requirements. You must have enough income to cover your own needs, but not enough to provide for your entire family.

2. Prepare documents: Gather all the required documents, such as proof of income, rental agreement and child benefit notice.

3. Submit an online application for child supplement: Go to the official website of the employment agency and register with your personal details. Fill out the child allowance application online. You will be guided through the process step by step.

4. Paper application (optional): Alternatively, you can download the application form, print it out and send it to the family benefits office by post.

5. Forwarding and processing: Submit the application for child supplement and wait for confirmation. Processing can take several weeks.

6. Check the information: Make sure that all details are correct and complete to avoid delays.

Please note that you must also apply for the child supplement for each child for whom you receive child benefit. Use the online application option for faster processing.

Using the child supplement calculator

The child supplement calculator is a helpful tool to check whether you are entitled to the child supplement.

This is how the calculator works:

• Enter

  your

  income

  : Enter your income and that of your partner to start the calculations.

• Enter the number of children

  : Enter the number of your children for whom you want to calculate the supplement.

• Set costs

  : Take into account your monthly expenses such as rent or insurance.

Advantages of use

• Easy to use

  : The

  child supplement calculator

  is easy to use and gives you quick results.

• Time saving

  : Instead of carrying out long calculations yourself, the

  online calculator

  provides immediate clarity about your entitlement.

• Example application

  : Let's assume you are a single parent earning 1,500 euros net per month and have two children. The calculator shows you whether you are entitled to the supplement and how much.

Use the child supplement calculator to check your eligibility quickly and easily.

Changes to the child supplement for 2024

The 2024 child supplement will undergo important changes to ease the burden on families in Germany. One key change is the increased additional child allowance, which has now been set at 700 euros. This adjustment will help families on low incomes in particular. The Family Bonus Plus for children aged 18 and over has also been increased to 700 euros. These adjustments are intended to support more households in order to reduce the financial burden. The focus is on increasing the accessibility and scope of the support measures. This could represent a considerable relief for beneficiaries with low incomes. These changes illustrate efforts to promote social justice and allow more families to benefit from government assistance programs. To take full advantage of all the new benefits, it is important to check the exact requirements early in the new year if necessary.