Kindergeld

Kindergeld is a government program in Germany that provides monthly financial support to parents or guardians to help cover the costs of raising children. The aim is to reduce the financial burden on families and support child welfare. The program is funded by the federal government and administered by the Familienkasse, a unit of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit).

Eligibility and administration are handled by the Familienkasse. Generally, the recipient is the parent or legal guardian who has custody of the child and who lives in Germany, though there are rules for children living abroad in certain situations. An application must be submitted to begin or continue payments, and recipients may need to provide documents such as birth certificates and proof of guardianship.

Payments are made monthly for each eligible child, with the total amount depending on the number of children in the family. The benefit typically covers children up to a certain age, usually ending at 18, with extensions up to 25 if the child is in education or training. For disabled children, there is no automatic upper age limit in many cases, provided the eligibility criteria continue to be met.

Application and administration notes: requests are filed with the Familienkasse, and recipients should report changes in family or income status that could affect eligibility. Payments may be adjusted if the family’s circumstances change, such as a modification of custody or residency.

Kindergeld is separate from other family benefits like Elterngeld (parental allowance) and Kinderzuschlag (child supplement) for low-income families. Some families may qualify for more than one program, depending on their circumstances.