What is the child supplement?
The child supplement of up to 209 euros per child and month is an additional benefit for low-income families that is intended to reduce child poverty and promote participation in social life. Parents can get it if they earn enough for themselves but their income is not enough for their entire family.
Additional benefit of the support service: those who receive the child supplement are exempt from day-care center fees. School children also get free lunch and are entitled to the school supplies package of 150 euros per school year. In addition, parents can be reimbursed for the actual travel costs to school.
In the case of child supplements, the rigid income ceilings have been abolished since January 2020, which means that more parents are entitled to claim. The supplement is granted from the month in which the application is submitted and is paid out together with the child benefit.
Tip: You can check online at the employment agency whether your application has been successful.
Relief package brings increase
From July 2022, the maximum amount for the child supplement will increase from up to 209 to up to 229 euros per month per child. That brings the relief package that the Bundestag and Bundesrat decided in May 2022.
These requirements must be met for the child allowance
Parents who only have a low income are entitled to the child supplement. Those who earn little should check this claim. These are the requirements:
- Parents receive child benefit and the gross income is at least 900 euros per month for couples and at least 600 euros for single parents.
- You do not receive unemployment benefit II.
- The child is under 25 years old and lives in the parents’ household.
- It is not married or in a civil partnership (registered civil partnership).
The decision on the application depends on the income situation in the last six months before the application is submitted. In the case of rented apartments, the housing costs in the month of application are decisive; in the case of home ownership, an average value is calculated from the monthly costs in the calendar year before the application is submitted.
This is how income and assets affect the child allowance
The income and assets of the parents and the child are offset against the child supplement – but to a different extent.
- The child’s own income, such as an orphan’s pension or maintenance, is only credited at 45 percent. Example: The child receives maintenance in the amount of 300 euros. Only 45 percent of this is credited to the child supplement, i.e. 135 euros. In this case, the child supplement is 70 euros (205 euros minus 135 euros).
- The child’s assets are fully offset against the child allowance if they exceed the tax-free limit of 3,850 euros. This also applies to all members of the household.
- The income of the parents also plays a role. This includes, for example, income from self-employed and dependent work, unemployment benefits or sick pay and parental benefits. Assets are considered to be cash, savings and securities less fixed allowances. Applicants can find out which allowances apply in detail in the information sheet on the child allowance from the family benefits office.
More help for low-income people
housing benefit If you have a low income, you should apply for housing benefit. Whether and how much housing benefit is granted depends not only on the amount of income, but also on the place of residence and the amount of the rent.
over-indebtedness. If unpaid bills pile up due to low income, people can find themselves in financial difficulties, from which they seem to find it difficult to get out. Our special on over-indebtedness explains what options are available.
Unemployment Benefit II. If your income is very low, you may be entitled to unemployment benefit II, also known colloquially as “Hartz IV”. Unemployment benefit II is applied for at the job center. When receiving unemployment benefit II, child allowance is no longer paid, because then families also receive a standard rate for children.
How to apply for child allowance
The application for child allowance is available on the website of the Family Benefits Office. You can apply for it directly online there. The Family Benefits Office also decides whether and to what extent it will be approved. If you do not agree with the decision, you can lodge an objection with the Family Benefits Office within one month of notification of the decision in the form of the decision. If she sticks to her decision, you can also file a complaint with the Social Court within one month after the announcement of the decision in the form of an objection notice.
This is how long the child allowance can be drawn
The Family Benefits Office approves the child allowance for six months. The approval period begins with the month in which the application is submitted. If the approval period has expired, the child allowance must be applied for again. As a rule, the Family Benefits Office pays the child allowance until the child comes of age – as well as child benefit, which can, however, be drawn longer under certain conditions (more on this in the special Child benefit from the age of 18: Child benefit for young adults).
You must adhere to these rules while receiving the child allowance
Anyone who receives the child supplement has certain obligations to cooperate. If he violates them, he has to reckon with sanctions.
It is very important to report any change in circumstances to the Family Benefits Office, for example if someone moves out or another child is born. The Family Benefits Office provides an online form for notification of changes. If the Family Benefits Office is informed late or not at all about changes that are important for the entitlement to the child allowance, money that was wrongly received may have to be repaid. In addition, there is a risk of fines and, in particularly serious cases, criminal consequences.
