When is the child benefit transferred? All information

The child benefit serves to ensure the basic care of children within Germany. You can find out when the child benefit is transferred in this practical tip.

When is the child benefit transferred? - basics

Child benefit is not a social benefit, but a tax compensation paid by the family funds.

• Since 01/01/2012 there has been no income limit for child benefit, which means that children of full age can continue to receive payments regardless of the amount of their own income if they meet the requirements for a claim.
• This claim arises with all parents and legal guardians for every child who lives in the house of the respective family.
• To do this, it must be the case that the legal guardians are resident in Germany or are at least taxable here.
• In order to receive child benefit, a corresponding application must be submitted to the family fund. A birth certificate is required for this. You can find an application for printing out here.
• Services can also be recognized retrospectively for up to four years.
• As with pension insurance, there is a special regulation for child benefit for civil servants. It is not the family funds that are responsible here, but the remuneration office, which then pays the child benefit together with the monthly allowances.

When is the child benefit transferred? - Claim

The right to child benefit arises automatically, but regular payment must be requested:

• Right from birth, the legal guardians are entitled to child benefit for each child. However, this claim does not arise in the child himself.
• The first month of payment is the one in which the child was born. Even if this was the case on the last day of the month, the legal guardians receive child benefit for the entire month.
• On reaching the age of 18, the right to child benefit is only retained if the child is in school or vocational training.
• These payments remain valid until the age of 25. For each month in which the child has done military or civilian service, child benefit is paid beyond the age of 26.
• However, there are special regulations. These are provisions relating to any part-time employment of the children.
• This has to be classified as "harmless" to the training, which is the case when it comes to income directly from the training relationship, it is a part-time job (mini-job, 450-euro job) and the regular weekly working hours do not exceed 20 Hours.
• Otherwise the child benefit will be canceled without replacement.
• Child benefit will also continue to be paid for the transition period between two training phases.
• If the child is undergoing secondary training, child benefit will only continue to be paid if any gainful employment meets the requirements for "harmless" activity described above.
• Child benefit is still paid for physically or mentally handicapped children whose restriction occurred before the age of 25, provided that employment is not classified as "harmful".

When is the child benefit transferred? - Height

The amount of child benefit is specified in §66 EStG.

• The amounts were last increased in early 2017.
• But already in early 2018, all subscribers can look forward to another increase.
• For the first and second child, there is currently € 192 per month, from 2018 € 194.
• The third child is currently bringing in € 198, from next year € 200.
• From the fourth child, the legal guardians will receive € 223 this year, and € 225 from 2018.

When is the child benefit transferred? - More details

Each recipient receives a child benefit number for allocation and easy receipt of child benefit.

• This consists of an allocation to the family fund, an abbreviation for "fixed child benefit number" (FK) and a final digit.
• According to this final figure, there is a payment date per month, which you can find out here.
• In addition, there is also the possibility of receiving a child allowance instead of the child benefit.
• However, this only makes sense for higher incomes, as a guideline for single people around 33, 500 €, for married people around 63, 500 €.
• Regardless of this, you have to submit a child benefit application. At the end of the year, after the tax assessment by the tax office, the child benefit may be taken into account as an advance payment of the child allowance.

If you want to apply for child benefit, you need your tax ID. In another practical tip, we will explain where you can find your tax ID.