Learn more about Kindergeld (child benefit): state financial support for families with children.
What exactly is child benefit?
Child benefit is paid by the state every month to many families in Germany. You receive it for each child up to the age of 18, and in special cases up to 25. Since January 2026, this amounts to 259 euros per child – regardless of your income.
The money is paid to the person with whom the child lives. If the child does not live with either parent, the benefit is paid to the parent who provides more financial support. If you live in Berlin, you must apply for child benefit through the Familienkasse Berlin Brandenburg. Low income families may also receive a child supplement (more information is available on the Berliner Familienportal).
Am I eligible for child benefit?
- you live in Berlin or are registered here with your child aged 0–18
- you live in Berlin and your child aged 18–25 is in apprenticeship or studying in Berlin or elsewhere, for example. Learn more about the conditions here: Kindergeld | Bundesagentur für Arbeit
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Aufenthaltserlaubnis (residence permit)
With most Aufenthaltserlaubnisse (residence permits) , you are eligible for child benefit. However, your Aufenthaltserlaubnis must be valid for at least six months.
With some Aufenthaltserlaubnisse , you are not eligible or special conditions apply:
- Sometimes, you can only receive child benefit if you are working or receive parental allowance or unemployment benefits. This applies, for example, to an Aufenthaltserlaubnis for studying (§ 16b Residence Act) or an Aufenthaltserlaubnis for humanitarian reasons under § 23 para. 1, § 23a or § 25 paras. 3–5 Residence Act.
- In some cases, you can receive child benefit if you have already been legally living in Germany for 15 months. This applies, for example, to a Aufenthaltserlaubnis for humanitarian reasons under § 23 para. 1, § 23a or § 25 paras. 3–5 Residence Act.
- There are Aufenthaltserlaubnisse that do not allow access to child benefit. These are usually Aufenthaltserlaubnisse intended only for a short stay. This includes, for example, the Opportunity Card for job seeking under § 20a para. 5 sentence 1 Residence Act.
If you are unsure whether you can receive child benefit with your Aufenthaltserlaubnis , ask at an advice center.
Tip: Here you can find special multilingual information about child benefit for refugees from Ukraine: Kindergeld für Geflüchtete aus der Ukraine | Bundesagentur für Arbeit
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Unbefristeter Aufenthaltstitel (permanent residence title)
If you have an unbefristeter Aufenthaltstitel (permanent residence title ), for example, a Niederlassungerlaubnis (settlement permit), you are eligible for child benefit.
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EU or EEA countries
If you come from an EU or EEA country other than Germany, you may be eligible for child benefit under certain conditions. An important requirement is that you have freedom of movement rights. This means that you live in another EU country and meet the conditions under the Freedom of Movement Act, because you work in Germany, for example. You may receive child benefit after three months have passed.
In some cases, you may not receive child benefit if you are unemployed.
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Duldung (temporary suspension of deportation) or Aufenthaltsgestattung (temporary permission to stay during the asylum procedure)
If you have a Duldung (temporary suspension of deportation) or an Aufenthaltsgestattung (temporary permission to stay during the asylum procedure), you cannot receive child benefit. There is one exception: with an Beschäftigungsduldung (employment-based temporary suspension of deportation), you may receive child benefit.
You can receive child benefit if:
Not everyone is eligible for child benefit. Depending on your residence status, there may be specific rules. Eligibility always depends on the residence status of the parents:
What happens if my Aufenthaltstitel (residence title) is about to expire?
If you applied online to extend your Aufenthaltstitel (residence title) before it expired, you must save the confirmation at the end of the application as a PDF. It functions like a Fiktionsbescheinigung (certificate of fictional right of residence). The Familienkasse will accept it.
If you were already receiving child benefit, then it will continue. You can find more information here:
You should seek advice if:
- you are unsure whether you can receive child benefit, for example after a separation or loss of employment
- you do not know whether you can receive child benefit with your Aufenthaltstitel (residence title)
- your Aufenthaltstitel changes or has already expired
- you need help understanding replies or letters from the Familienkasse – in case of a rejection or a request to repay money for example
- you need to report new information to the Familienkasse (also called "Mitteilungspflicht" or duty to notify) and have questions about this
How do I apply for child benefit?
- Child benefit application
- Child supplement form
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Use the online assistant (German only)
Submit the application online. For this, you will need a BundID.
If the online application does not work, you can also print the completed online application, sign it, and send it by post with all required documents to: Familienkasse Berlin-Brandenburg, 14462 Potsdam
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Use a PDF form in your preferred language
The application is available in many different languages. You can download the documents here: multilingual applications | Bundesagentur für Arbeit
Fill out the application digitally, print and sign it, then send it along with all the required documents to: Familienkasse Berlin-Brandenburg, 14462 Potsdam
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Visit the Familienkasse in person
You can also submit your application in person. There are several Familienkasse locations in Berlin: Familienkassen | Bundesagentur für Arbeit
The application consists of two forms:
For children aged 0–18, you need both your own and your child's tax identification number (Tax ID). If your child was born abroad, include a copy of the birth certificate with the application. If your child is between 18 and 25 years old, they must meet specific conditions for you to receive child benefit.
At the Bundesagentur (Federal Employment Agency ), you can find a list of all required documents and supporting evidence: Unterlagenliste | Agentur für Arbeit
You submit the child benefit application to the Familienkasse Berlin-Brandenburg. You have different options:
Important
Submit the application as early as possible. Child benefit can only be paid up to six months before the application date.
If you are expecting a baby, you will automatically receive a letter with a code from the Familienkasse after the baby is born. This makes the online application simple and fast.
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Further information
The Berlin Family Portal brings together official information, tips, and practical advice for family life. Learn more about child benefit here.
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Guides
ElternMails (Parent Mails) are short guides tailored to your child's stage of development. You will receive practical tips on parenting, health, education, and much more in English, Turkish, Ukrainian, Arabic, or Polish.
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Financial support
Do you receive Bürgergeld (citizen's benefit), Sozialhilfe (social aid), Kinderzuschlag (supplementary child allowance), Wohngeld (housing benefit), or benefits under the AsylbLG (Asylum Seekers Benefits Act)? Find out here how much financial support you can receive for your children through the Bildungs- und Teilhabepaket (BuT) (Education and Participation Package):
If you need help filling out forms and collecting documents, the FamilienServiceBüro(Family Service Office) in your district can help you. You can find it here:
Or you can get support from the Stadtteilmütter at a family center near you. You can find these and other advice centers here:
Locations in this map
Stadtteilmütter in Spandau
Show on mapKraepelinweg 13
13589 Berlin-Spandau
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Spandau
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around development, education and health of children (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Weverstraße 72
13595 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Spandau
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Voltastr. 2
13629 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Spandau Mitte
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Kirchhofstraße 30
13585 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Brabanter Str. 18-20
10717 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Beethovenstr. 34
12247 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around development, education and health of children (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Viktoriastr. 8
12105 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Kranzer Straße 6 – 7
14199 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Götzstraße 24A
12099 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Treptow-Köpenick
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Ortolfstr. 164
12524 Berlin
Germany
