Would you like to use the online service?
Then close the box and use this Website in German.
Our employees only speak German in the office and on the phone.

Apply for child supplement

  • Sozialleistungen

If you as parents earn enough income for yourself, but your income is not enough or only just enough for the whole family, you can apply for the child supplement.

  • Basic information

    The child supplement is a benefit for low-income families. The child supplement provides support for your family if you have a low income and are unable to cover—or can barely cover—the needs of your entire family with that income.

    You are eligible for the child supplement for your children under the age of 25 if

    • your child or children are not married or in a domestic partnership and live in your household,
    • you receive child benefit for the child or are not eligible for child benefit solely because you receive another comparable government benefit that excludes child benefit,
    • you have sufficient income for yourself and can cover your family’s needs with the child supplement,
    • your monthly income meets a minimum threshold (the so-called minimum income threshold), and
    • Your income that is taken into account for the child supplement is not so high that the child supplement is reduced to zero, and
    • you do not have significant assets

    The child supplement amounts to a maximum of 292.00 EUR per month per child. If your income exceeds your needs as a parent, the child supplement is reduced. Your children’s income is also taken into account, 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.

    The following are counted as income:

    • 45 percent of your child’s or children’s own income, such as child support, advance child support payments, or a half-orphan’s pension,
    • 45 percent of the parents’ income from employment or self-employment that exceeds their own needs,
    • income replacement benefits such as unemployment benefits, short-time work benefits, or sick pay,
    • parental allowance,
    • Social security pensions,
    • Capital gains and interest income,
    • Income from renting and leasing, as well as
    • spousal support.

    As of January 1, 2020, you can also receive the child supplement if your earned income, the child supplement, and housing assistance do not leave you more than 100.00 EUR per month below your entitlement to basic income support.

    INFO:

    If you receive the child supplement or housing allowance, you may be eligible for benefits to support your children’s education and participation in community life. You may also be exempt from daycare fees.

    The KiZ-Lotse helps you quickly and easily check whether you may be eligible for the child supplement. You can find the KiZ-Lotse on the Family Benefits Office website of the Federal Employment Agency under the “Family and Children” section.

    The Family Benefits Office offers video consultations that allow you to ask questions about the child supplement from home. You can schedule a video consultation appointment online or by phone at 0800 4555530.

    Requirements

    To receive a child supplement, the following conditions must be met:

    • Your child/children is/are under the age of 25, not married or partnered and lives in your household.
    • You receive child benefit or a comparable benefit for your child/children, for example from abroad.
    • You have
      • as a couple, you have a joint gross income of at least EUR 900.00 per month (excluding housing benefit, child benefit and child supplement) or
      • as a single parent at least EUR 600.00 per month.
    • Your income, which is offset against the child supplement, is not so high that the child supplement is reduced to zero.
    • You do not have any significant assets.
    • As a rule, you can receive the child supplement if your income, child benefit, any housing benefit you are entitled to and the child supplement can cover the needs of the whole family within the meaning of SGB II.
    • Child supplement is subordinate to other possible income of the child
    • there may be an obligation to apply for priority claims such as maintenance or advance maintenance payments.

  • Procedure

    You can apply for the child supplement in writing using the form provided. In this case, please send the signed application by post to your responsible family benefits office.
    You also have the option of completing the application online. In this case, you can upload the supporting documents directly; the data will then be sent directly to the family benefits office.

    For an electronic application with electronic proof of identity:

    • Go to the website of the Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency and access the online application. For authentication, you will need either
      • the new ID card with online ID function or
      • the eID card for EU citizens and nationals of the European Economic Area or
      • an electronic residence permit.
    • Fill out the online application and upload the necessary documents.
    • The online application and the uploaded documents will be sent to the family benefits office.
    • It is no longer necessary to submit a written application by post to the family benefits office.

    For an analog application:

    If you do not wish to make use of electronic application, you can alternatively have the online application sent to you for signature or print out the application yourself. In this case, please send the signed application by post to your local family benefits office.

    • Go to the website of the Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency and call up the online application form
    • Print out the completed application form or have it printed out and sent to you by the family benefits office.
    • You can also print out the application form directly and complete it by hand.
    • Submit the signed application documents
      and the required supporting documents to the Family Benefits Office. You can also obtain the form from your local
      family benefits office.
    • You can also have the application documents sent to you in paper form.

    You can report important changes in your personal circumstances via the Family Benefits Office website.

    Communicate changes electronically:

    • Go to the website of the Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency and call up the notification of change. For authentication, you will need either
      • the new ID card with online ID function or
      • the eID card for EU citizens and nationals of the European Economic Area or
      • an electronic residence permit.
    • Fill in the online notification of change directly on your computer and upload the necessary documents.
    • The notification of change and the uploaded documents will be sent directly to the family benefits office.

    Communicate changes in analog form:

    If you do not wish to notify changes electronically, you can have the online notification of change sent to you or print out the form yourself. Please sign it and send it by post to the relevant family benefits office.

    • Go to the website of the Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency and call up the notification of change.
    • Print out the notification of change or have it printed out and sent to you by the family benefits office.
    • You can also print out the notification of change directly and fill it in by hand.
    • You can also obtain the form from your local family benefits office.

  • Necessary Documents
    • Documents for the application for child supplement
      • 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

  • Online Services

  • Fees / Costs

    gebührenfrei

  • Deadlines & processing time

    What deadlines must be paid attention to?

    The child supplement is not paid retroactively, but at the earliest from the month of application.

    How long does it take to process

    4 weeks Processing usually takes place within one month of receipt of the complete application for child supplement

  • Legal Bases

  • More Information

This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.

The official information in German is complete and correct. 30.07.2026

Dienstleistungen · syfq nzm