AmtsDeutschland
0%
Skip to main content
Authorities Most popular Guides
FAQ Contact
Find an official procedure

Apply for Kindergeld (child benefit)

Familienkasse · €259 per child per month

OnlineFamilienkasse

In 2026, under § 66 EStG, Kindergeld (child benefit) is €259 a month for each child – with no scaling according to the number of children. The competent body is the Familienkasse (Family Benefits Office) of the Federal Employment Agency; for public-sector employees, in some cases their own payroll office.

The costliest point is not the amount but a deadline. § 70 Abs. 1 Satz 2 EStG provides: ‘Payment of determined Kindergeld is made retrospectively only for the last six months before the start of the month in which the application for Kindergeld was received.’ Anyone who applies only a year after the birth loses the first six months – more than €1,500.

Note the wording: what is limited is the payment, not the determination. The entitlement can therefore be established further back, but only six months are actually paid out.

The second common loss concerns older children. Under § 32 Abs. 4 EStG, a child counts up to their 25th birthday, as long as they are being trained for an occupation. After completing a first vocational training or a first degree, however, only if they ‘do not engage in economic activity’ – what remains permitted is up to 20 hours a week, a training relationship or marginal employment.

Last updated27 August 2026
Legal basis§ 66 EStG · § 70 · § 32 · § 62
VerificationChecked against gesetze-im-internet.de (consolidated version)
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information page: We are not the Familienkasse, not an authority and not a paid advisory service — we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in simple terms; the competent body is always authoritative. Not legal or tax advice. The entitlement is decided by the Familienkasse on a case-by-case basis. All information is provided without guarantee. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document administrative procedures and check the information against the official source — this is information, not legal or tax advice.
Amount€259Per child per month
RetroactiveOnly 6 months§ 70 Abs. 1 Satz 2
Age limitUp to 25In training
After the 1st trainingMax. 20 hrs/weekOtherwise it lapses
Required documents

What you need

The child’s birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde)

More precisely: the copy intended for Kindergeld purposes that the Standesamt (registry office) issues when it registers the birth. Ask for it explicitly at the Standesamt – it is free of charge, and anyone who does not take it with them must order it again later for a fee.

Tax identification number of the child and parent

Both are a requirement for payment. The child's is sent automatically by post after the birth. If it has been lost, it can be requested again from the Federal Central Tax Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern, BZSt) – this takes time and should therefore be dealt with early.

For children over 18: proof of education or training

School certificate, certificate of enrolment, training contract or evidence of voluntary service. Without it, payment ends automatically on the 18th birthday – the Familienkasse does not ask.

After the first training: details of economic activity

Employment contract stating the number of weekly hours. This determines the entitlement: above 20 hours it lapses, unless it is a training relationship or marginal employment.

Bank details

Kindergeld is paid into an account of the applicant. For separated parents, what matters is who has taken the child into their household – not who submits the application first.

For separated parents: details of the household

Kindergeld is paid only once, to the parent in whose household the child lives. In the event of disagreement, the Familienkasse decides; where the parents use an alternating residence arrangement (Wechselmodell), the eligible parent must be designated.

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Apply immediately after the birth

    Do not wait. Because of § 70 Abs. 1 Satz 2 EStG, payment is made only for the last six months before the month of application. Every month of delay beyond the half-year costs €259, which cannot be made up later.

  2. 2

    Have the tax identification numbers ready

    Those of the child and of the applying parent are a requirement for payment. The child's is sent automatically by post after the birth; if it is missing, request it early from the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern, as it takes time.

  3. 3

    Submit online via the Familienkasse

    The application is made via the online portal of the Familienkasse; alternatively by form. Keep the confirmation of receipt – it proves the month of application, on which the six-month time limit depends.

  4. 4

    Prepare the evidence before the 18th birthday

    Payment ends automatically on the 18th birthday if no evidence of training is provided. The Familienkasse does not reliably remind you of this. Set yourself a reminder a few weeks beforehand.

  5. 5

    Keep an eye on the 20-hour limit after the first training

    If the child has completed a first vocational training or a first degree and continues to study or train, the entitlement remains only if they work no more than 20 hours a week – training relationships and marginal employment excepted. Secondary employment of 25 hours ends the entitlement.

  6. 6

    Report changes without undue delay

    Moving, changing bank account, the end of training, taking up economic activity, changing household. Unreported changes lead to repayment claims that accumulate over months and fall due as a single sum.

Fee information

Costs and payment

Amount and deadlinesThe amount is simple — the deadlines are not
Kindergeld (child benefit)€259 per child per month
Scaling by number of childrenDoes not exist
Retrospective paymentAt most 6 months
General age limit18 years
In trainingUp to 25 years
After the first trainingMax. 20 hours a week

The amount is straightforward: § 66 EStG provides ‘Kindergeld amounts to €259 per month for each child’ – with no scaling by the number of children, as there used to be. The deadlines are complicated, and they cost money. First, the retrospective effect: under § 70 Abs. 1 Satz 2 EStG, payment is made ‘retrospectively only for the last six months before the start of the month in which the application … was received’. Anyone who applies a year after the birth loses six months – €1,554. Note the precise wording: what is limited is the payment, not the determination; the entitlement can still be established further back, but only half a year is actually paid out regardless. Second, the age limits: in principle up to 18, and where in training, under § 32 Abs. 4 EStG, up to the 25th birthday. After completing a first vocational training or a first degree, however, the child only continues to count if they ‘do not engage in economic activity’ – what remains permitted is at most 20 hours a week, a training relationship or marginal employment. This rule ends more Kindergeld entitlements than any other, because nobody expects it.

Good to know

Important notes

There are only six months retrospectively. § 70 Abs. 1 Satz 2 EStG limits the payment. With a delay of one year, more than €1,500 is lost.

What is limited is the payment, not the determination. The entitlement can be established further back – but only half a year is actually paid out regardless.

Payment ends automatically at 18. Without evidence of training, the Familienkasse stops payment, without reliably reminding you beforehand. Set yourself a reminder.

The 20-hour limit applies after the first training. If the child works more, the entitlement lapses – except in the case of a training relationship or marginal employment. Most families overlook this.

Both tax identification numbers are a requirement. That of the child and that of the parent. Without them, no payment is made.

Kindergeld is paid only once per child. To the parent in whose household the child lives – not to whoever applies first.

The birth certificate for Kindergeld purposes is free of charge. But only if you ask for it at the Standesamt. Ordering it again later costs money.

Report changes immediately. Repayment claims often only arrive after many months, and then as a lump sum.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Postponing the application. The costliest mistake on this page. Beyond the six-month limit, every month is lost for good – €259 per month and child.

Letting the 18th birthday pass. Without timely evidence of training, payment is stopped. Resuming it is again subject to the six-month limit.

Overlooking the 20-hour limit. Secondary employment of 25 hours a week after completing initial training ends the entitlement – even if the child continues studying.

Applying without the child's tax identification number. It is a requirement for payment. If it is missing, requesting it afterwards is time-consuming.

Both parents applying after separation. Payment is made once, to the household in which the child lives. Duplicate applications only delay processing.

Not reporting changes. The end of training or taking up economic activity otherwise leads to repayment claims covering the entire period.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

How much is Kindergeld in 2026?

€259 a month for each child. § 66 EStG states it in exactly these terms, and there is no longer any scaling by the number of children – the same amount for the first child as for the fourth. Older overviews that give a different rate for the first two children than for further ones are out of date.

How far back can I receive Kindergeld retrospectively?

At most six months. § 70 Abs. 1 Satz 2 EStG provides that payment is made ‘retrospectively only for the last six months before the start of the month’ in which the application was received. Anyone who applies a year after the birth therefore loses six months – more than €1,500. Note the wording: what is limited is the payment, not the determination. The entitlement can be established further back, but only half a year is actually paid out regardless.

Up to what age is Kindergeld paid?

In principle, up to the 18th birthday. Beyond that, up to the 25th birthday, as long as the child is being trained for an occupation – school, a degree, vocational training, and, under certain conditions, also transition and waiting periods or voluntary service. Important: payment ends automatically on the 18th birthday if no evidence is provided. The Familienkasse does not reliably remind you of this, so you should make a note for yourself in good time.

My child works alongside their studies — do I lose Kindergeld?

That depends on whether they have already completed a first vocational training or a first degree. Beforehand, economic activity plays no role. Afterwards, under § 32 Abs. 4 EStG, the child only continues to count if they ‘do not engage in economic activity’ – with what remains expressly permitted being: an activity of no more than 20 hours a week, a training relationship and marginal employment. Secondary employment of 25 hours after completing initial training therefore ends the entitlement, even if the child is studying for a master's degree. This rule costs more families their Kindergeld than any other.

Who receives Kindergeld where the parents are separated?

The parent in whose household the child lives – payment is made only once per child. It does not matter who applies first or who pays more maintenance. In an alternating residence arrangement (Wechselmodell), where the child lives with both parents in roughly equal measure, the parents must designate the eligible parent; if they cannot agree, the family court (Familiengericht) decides on application. The other parent benefits financially because the Kindergeld is offset against cash maintenance.

Which documents do I need?

The child’s birth certificate – ask specifically at the Standesamt for the copy for Kindergeld purposes, which is free of charge – together with the tax identification numbers of the child and the applying parent. Both numbers are a requirement for payment. For children over 18, the evidence of training is added, and after completing initial training, the employment contract stating the number of weekly hours as well.

What happens if I do not report a change?

The Familienkasse claims back the overpaid Kindergeld – and because such cases are often only noticed after many months, the claim arrives as a lump sum. Among other things, the following must be reported: ending or abandoning training, taking up economic activity of more than 20 hours a week after initial training, the child moving to a different household, changing bank account and longer stays abroad. Also report changes that work in your favour – otherwise nothing is increased retrospectively beyond the six-month limit.

Kindergeld or the tax allowance for children — do I have to choose?

No, and you do not have to apply for anything either. When assessing income tax, the Finanzamt automatically carries out the more-favourable assessment (Günstigerprüfung): it works out whether the Kindergeld paid or the tax allowance for children is more favourable for you, and applies whichever is better. The allowance only has an effect at higher incomes. So you simply apply for Kindergeld and leave the rest to the Finanzamt to calculate.

Related official procedures

Report a change
Before a repayment claim is made
Free of charge
Kinderzuschlag (child supplement)
Additional, for low income
Up to €297
Tax allowance for children (Kinderfreibetrag)
The automatic more-favourable assessment
€9,756

Cannot find the official procedure you are looking for?

Tell us what information you need.

Send a request