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Child benefit: Important facts for parents

The child benefit is intended to guarantee the basic care of every child.
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  1. What you should know about the child benefit
  2. Child benefit: What is it?
  3. Child benefit: who gets it?
  4. Child benefit: How is the application made?
  5. Child benefit: How much is paid?
  6. Child benefit: How long is paid?

What you should know about the child benefit

Who gets how much child benefit? How can you apply for child benefit? How long is your child entitled to child benefit? Information is available here.

Child benefit: What is it?

One of the biggest mistakes we can refute directly: the child benefit is not a social benefit. Although it is disbursed by the family fund, it is, according to the legislature, a tax compensatory payment. Parents receive child support so they have the financial means to ensure their child's primary care.

Child benefit: who gets it?

In Germany, all legal guardians are entitled to child benefits. This means that both the birth parents of a child, as well as foster parents, stepparents and grandparents can receive child benefit. The claim begins in the month of birth of each child. However, without a written application, the child benefit will not be paid.

Child benefit: How is the application made?

For the application for child benefit, there are ready-made forms that you can easily get from your local family fund or even online. At the family fund, you also submit your child benefit application. It is also necessary for a copy of the birth certificate of the child. It usually takes about four to six weeks for the application to be processed. Here is a hint for all parents who may be a bit late with their application for child benefit: Child benefit can be used up to four years retroactively.

Child benefit: How much is paid?

The amount of child benefit generally depends on the number of children. One child or two children pay € 184 per child. From the third child there are 190 € and from the fourth, the child benefit is increased to 215 € per month. When the child allowance is transferred to your account is set exactly for each month and depends on the final number of the child benefit number. These can be found either on your child benefit letter or on your bank statement. Children entitled to child benefit with the final digits 0 and 1 receive the money at the beginning of the month. At the end of the month, the child allowance will be transferred to those with the number 8 and 9.

Child benefit: How long is paid?

From birth, child benefit is always paid until the child's 18th birthday without certain conditions being met. However, when you reach the age of 18, the whole thing is a bit more complicated. Now, guardians can only receive child support if their child is doing a vocational training or studying. In this case , child benefit can still be paid until the age of 25 . This also applies, for example, in the case of a further master's program.

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