Child Benefit & Parental Allowance

The child benefit is monetary support from the state of families with children. Parents receive child benefit from the birth of their child until the child turns 18. If children remain in school or vocational training or study beyond their 18th birthday, it can be paid until the child’s 25th birthday. The amount of child benefit is €219 for the first and second child, €225 for the third child and €250 for each additional child (as of 2021).

• Information from the Federal Employment Agency on child benefit

General requirements

Child benefit is paid to parents

• who have their place of residence or habitual abode in Germany,
• who regularly provide care for the child and/or the child lives with them.

Requirements according to nationality

Child benefit is paid to

• nationals of EU, EEA countries and Switzerland
• nationals of Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Morocco, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia and Turkey, if they are employed in Germany as employees subject to social insurance contributions, or if they receive unemployment benefit or a disability benefit.
• nationals of other countries with a valid settlement permit or residence permit that entitles them to be gainfully employed.
• recognized refugees and people entitled to asylum

There is no entitlement to child benefit

for people who have a residence permit for the sole purpose of education (eg students in accordance with §16b AufenthG) or people who have been sent to Germany by their foreign-based employer to provide temporary services, even if they have a residence permit which allows gainful employment.

The application must be submitted in writing by a parent or legal guardian to the Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency. Only one person with parental authority receives child benefit for each child. When applying, you must state your tax identification number and the tax identification number of the child. Be sure to submit your application as soon as possible, as the child benefit is only paid retroactively for six months.

Familienkasse der Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency)
Bahnhofsallee 5
37081 Göttingen
Phone: 0511 / 919-9090
Phone: 0800 / 4 5555 30
Email: Familienkasse-Niedersachsen-Bremen@arbeitsagentur.de
Opening hours: For current hours, please call the telephone numbers listed.

• Application forms for child benefit

Parental allowance is provided as compensation for the loss of income after the birth of a child. Parents receive 65 to 67% of the average monthly net income before the birth, at a minimum of €300 and maximum of €1,800.

Parental allowance is paid for a maximum of 14 months. The father and mother are free to divide the 14 months between them, although one parent may claim a maximum of 12 months. In this way, the German state encourages both parents to participate in raising their children. Single parents are entitled to the full 14 months of parental allowance.

Parental Allowance Plus (ElterngeldPlus) and possibly a Partnership Bonus provide further flexibility. For more information, please contact the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth or the Göttingen Parental Allowance.

• Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth: Parental Allowance
• Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth: Parental Allowance Calculator
• Parental Allowance Digital Portal
• EURAXESS Germany: Parental Allowance

General requirements:

The parental allowance entitlement is intended for mothers and fathers who

• are caring for and raising their child themselves,
• are not working more than 30 hours a week,
• live in the same household as their child, and
• live in Germany.

In some special circumstances, parental allowance may be paid to parents working abroad.

Requirements according to nationality

Parental allowance is paid to

• nationals of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland, if they are employed in Germany or reside in Germany,
• nationals of other countries, depending on the type of residence permit, and who are likely to have stable access to the labour market:
  • people with a settlement permit (permanent residency)
  • people with a residence permit entitling them to work in Germany.

There is no entitlement to parental allowance

for people who have a residence permit for the sole purpose of education (eg students in accordance with §16b AufenthG).

Parental allowance must be applied for in writing at the applicable parental allowance office. Each parent can only submit one application for parental allowance. The application does not have to be submitted immediately after the birth of the child. However, parental allowance is only paid retroactively to the last three months before the beginning of the month in which the application is submitted.

• City of Göttingen Parental Allowance Office (Elterngeldstelle)
• District of Göttingen Parental Allowance Office (Elterngeldstelle)