Child benefit is child's play Information on the combination form for home births

Prerequisites

The service “Child’s play to child benefit” with the paper combination form for home births is available to all parents who give birth to their child at home in Hamburg – i.e. outside of a facility (clinic or birthing center).

You can also use this service if you are not registered in Hamburg – the crucial factor is that your child is born in Hamburg.

You can also use this service if you work in the public sector. If a different family benefits office than the Federal Employment Agency's North Family Benefits Office is responsible for your case, your child benefit application will be automatically forwarded to the correct office.

Documents required

Please submit the following documents in their original form to your registry office, unless otherwise stated.

Documents in a foreign language must be submitted together with a German translation prepared by a publicly sworn or certified translator. You will receive your originals back along with your child's birth certificates.

- For married couples with parents: Marriage certificate with reference to the registration of the spouses' births (if this reference is missing, the spouses' birth certificates must also be submitted); if applicable, a "certified copy from the family register" (for marriages before 2009).

- For unmarried parents: Mother's birth certificate. For the father's registration: Father's birth certificate and the document acknowledging paternity. If the parents have joint custody, also include the custody declaration. If available, also submit the document confirming the child's name registration.

- If the mother is divorced or widowed: marriage certificate stating the dissolution of the marriage. If this information is missing, the divorce decree or death certificate must also be submitted.

The registry office may request the submission of further documents if this is necessary to verify information provided.

Please note

Please submit the paper application form and the accompanying documents in person to the registry office. Sending the documents by post or dropping them in the registry office's mailbox is not sufficient.

In the case of twin or multiple births, please fill out a separate combination form for each child.

When filling out the combined form, you will be asked to provide your contact information (email address and telephone number). This data will only be used by the responsible authorities if there are any questions regarding your application.

Deadlines

In the case of home births, you must report the birth personally to the registry office within one week.

Procedure

1. Receive and fill out the form

- You can find the combined form online to fill out and print. Alternatively, you can obtain it from your midwife at your prenatal appointment or at any registry office in Hamburg.

- Please fill out the form completely, sign on pages 2 and 3 and attach the required documents.

- After the birth, you will receive a birth certificate from your midwife. Please also include this with your documents.

2. Oral notification of birth at the registry office

- To register the birth orally, which by law must be done within one week at the relevant registry office, you must submit the documents in person. Sending them by mail or dropping them in the registry office's mailbox is not sufficient.

The registry office records the verbal notification of the birth, certifies the birth of the child, and issues the requested birth certificates. These will be sent to you by mail. Fees for additional birth certificates must be paid at the registry office.

3. Registration office and tax identification number

- Your child will be registered in the residents' register.

- The data will also be transmitted to the Statistical Office for Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein.

- The residents' registration office informs the Federal Central Tax Office. There, the tax identification number for your child is created and sent to you by post.

4. Child benefit

- The registry office will forward your child benefit application directly to the family benefits office.

- The family benefits office automatically receives your child's tax identification number.

- Once all the data is available, you will receive the child benefit notification by post.

- Child benefit will be transferred directly to the account you specify.

Processing time

You will usually receive the requested benefits by mail within approximately 10 days, provided you have submitted all the necessary documents for issuing your birth certificate and applying for child benefit. Child benefit payments are made monthly, depending on the initial letter of your last name. You can inquire about the exact payment date at the Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency. If you are missing any documents or information, the responsible office will contact you.

Fees

Birth certificates for parental allowance and maternity benefits are provided free of charge.


- You can order additional birth certificates for your personal needs (e.g. for kindergarten, baptism, application for ID card or passport) using the combination form – these are subject to a fee and are paid directly at the registry office.




Fee overview:


- First birth certificate: €19.50


- Each additional birth certificate: €8.50

Legal remedies

No

Legal basis

You can find the legal basis in the information sheet “Information on the service for home births”