Further state family benefits

Family allowance is paid per child until the completion of their 18th year. Under certain circumstances, it can be paid to the age of 25, e.g. if a child is currently enrolled in vocational training.

Eligibility 

• Parents must be resident in Germany     

Requirements for international parents

• Settled status in Germany

• A residence permit allowing long-term employment

Family allowance rates

• Child benefit is €250 per child per month 

(Last updated: January 2023)

 Since March 1, 2021, applications for family allowance (plus “Anlage Kind” form) are to be made to the “Familienkasse” of the Employment Agency.

If a low income household is unable to cover the costs of accommodation, its members can apply for a state allowance to cover the shortfall. 

Accommodation benefit is available as:

• A rent subsidy for tenants of an apartment or a room in a shared apartment/dormitory accommodation.
• As a dwelling allowance for home-owners

 
Eligibility for accommodation benefit and the amount paid depends on:

• The number of members of a household
• The total household income
• Thresholds for rent or dwelling allowance.

Would you like to calculate your eligibility for accommodation benefit?
The Accommodation benefit calculator from the State of NRW will provide the answer. (German only)

Additional family allowance is open to parents whose income is sufficient to cover their own needs, but whose level of financial resources would qualify them for unemployment benefit II (“Arbeitslosengeld II”), once the needs of their children have been taken into account.

Parents are eligible to claim additional family allowance for each of their unmarried children under the age of 25 living in their household, if:

• They are in receipt of family allowance or other benefits, which preclude the receipt of family allowance.
• The monthly income of the parents reaches the minimum income threshold of €900 for two parents and €600 for single parents.
• The income and assets of the parents do not exceed the highest income threshold (assessment threshold plus the total amount received for additional family allowance).
• The needs of the family are covered by additional family allowance and any accommodation benefit to which the family is eligible. As such, the family has no claim to unemployment benefit II.

The amount of the additional family allowance paid

The additional family allowance amounts to a maximum monthly amount of €292 per child and together with the family allowance, covers the €250 calculated as the average requirement per child.

Applications (German only) can be made online via the “Familienkasse” of the Employment Agency.

If a parent required to pay maintenance does so irregularly or not at all, the state provides a monthly advance on child maintenance to support single parents and children. 

The level of advances on child maintenance (since January 2023)

• Children up to the age of 5: €230

• Children of the ages from 6 to 11:  €301

• Children of the ages from 12 to 17: €395