Familienkasse

Familienkasse is a regional office of the German Federal Employment Agency responsible for administering child benefits. Its primary task is the payment of Kindergeld (child benefit) to parents or guardians for their children. The Familienkasse also handles other family-related payments, such as Kinderzuschlag, a supplementary allowance for families with low income, and coordinates with related social programs when needed. The office operates under federal law and processes applications, ongoing payments, and necessary verifications.

Eligibility and administration are centered on families or guardians who have legal custody of a child residing in Germany. A Kindergeld application (Kindergeldantrag) is submitted to the relevant Familienkasse, along with required documents such as the child’s birth certificate, proof of schooling or training, bank details, and the family’s identification numbers. For residents with foreign ties, additional residency or visa documentation may be required. The Familienkasse assesses eligibility, calculates the monthly payment, and issues the benefit if criteria are met. It also informs applicants about changes in circumstances that could affect payments.

Payments are issued monthly, and the amount depends on the number of eligible children and applicable policy. Recipients must promptly report changes such as address, marital status, or schooling status, and payments can be adjusted or stopped when limits are reached or conditions change. In some cases, families may receive retroactive payments if eligibility or deadlines were not fully met previously.

The Familienkasse functions separately from tax-based provisions such as the Kinderfreibetrag and the Parental Allowance (Elterngeld). In certain situations, a tax-based comparison (Günstigerprüfung) may determine which option yields higher overall support for the family.