Child Supplement
Your way to the application
Clicking the link “Go to the Online Application for the Child Supplement” will take you to the home page of the online application. There, you can also take a quick check (KiZ-Lotse) to see if you are eligible for the child supplement.
The local Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency is responsible for the child supplement.
If you have a question about the child supplement, you can contact the toll-free service hotline of the Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency:
- Phone number 0800 4 5555 30
- Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
You can find the Family Benefits Office responsible for you and the corresponding contact information using the Office Finder of the Federal Employment Agency.
- Application for child supplement, including the applicant/partner annex and the child annex
- Proof of income
- Declaration of assets
- Proof of housing costs
- Further documents and evidence, if applicable
There are no costs involved.
Simply explained
The child supplement is financial assistance for low-income families. You can receive the child supplement if your income is insufficient—or barely sufficient—to support your entire family.
The child supplement is granted for 6-month periods. After 6 months, you must submit a new application.
You can also find information about the child supplement in this explanatory video.
What requirements must be met?
Payment of the child supplement is subject to certain requirements. To be eligible for the child supplement, you must meet the following requirements:
- You receive child benefit for your child.
- Your child lives in your household, is under 25 years of age, and is unmarried.
- You have a minimum income of your own: As a couple, you earn at least 900 euros gross. If you are a single parent, you earn at least 600 euros gross.
- You do not receive basic income support.
Child benefit and housing allowance are not included in the minimum income calculation.
Only 45 percent of child support payments or advance child support is counted toward the child supplement. It’s therefore worth applying even if you’re a single parent with a low income.
You can easily check whether you meet the requirements for the child supplement using the KiZ-Lotsen from the Federal Employment Agency.
What do I get?
Starting in January 2025, you will receive up to 297 euros in child allowance per child from the Family Benefits Office. The higher a family’s income, the less it relies on government assistance. Consequently, the allowance decreases as income rises until it eventually phases out.
Your children’s income is also taken into account in the calculation, for example, if your children receive child support, advance child support payments, or a half-orphan’s pension.
The child supplement is granted for 6-month periods. After 6 months, you must submit a new application.
What else is important?
If you receive the child supplement, you may be eligible to receive benefits for your child through the so-called Education and Participation Package. To do so, you must submit a separate application to your city, municipality, or county.
Frequently asked questions and answers
Already checked? Tips and lists for the next steps
There are a few things to consider and take care of in connection with the birth. The following list
provides an overview of the most important formalities you need to take care of before and after the
birth.
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