Familienkasse Nord

Child benefit

Do you have a child? Here you can find out how to apply for child benefit.

Use Online-Service

Easy as pie to child support

Detailed description

Child benefit payments are not dependent on your income. Child benefit is paid as a flat rate per child. The amount of child benefit is adjusted regularly.

Generally, you are entitled to child benefit from your child's birth until their 18th birthday. You may also be entitled to child benefit after that, but at the latest until your child's 25th birthday.

  • Children between 18 and 21 years of age: They receive child benefit if
    • Your child is not employed and
    • is registered as a job seeker.
  • Children between 18 and 25 years of age: They receive child benefit if
    • Your child is in education (school, vocational training or university studies),
    • Your child is in a transition period lasting a maximum of 4 months, for example between graduating from school and starting vocational training,
    • Your child cannot start or continue an apprenticeship because they have not found an apprenticeship position,
    • Your child is completing a recognized voluntary service,
    • Your child has already completed initial vocational training, but is still in training, for example, and works a maximum of 20 hours per week on the side.

If your child has a disability and cannot support themselves financially, you are entitled to child benefit even after your child's 25th birthday. However, the disability must have occurred before their 25th birthday and be the reason they are unable to support themselves financially.

Child benefit is paid to you if your child lives in your sole household. If the child lives with both parents, you can jointly decide which of you should receive the child benefit.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • Your child generally has their residence or habitual abode in Germany or in another EU or EEA state or in Switzerland.
  • They are subject to unlimited income tax liability in Germany or are assessed as such.
    • This also applies if you are a national of a member state of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland. You do not necessarily have to be resident in Germany.

Or

  • You are a national of an EU or EEA member state and have met the requirements of the Freedom of Movement Act no later than four months after your entry. This is generally the case if you
    • are self-employed or employed
    • are job seekers or involuntarily unemployed
    • You can derive your right to freedom of movement from a family member.
    • have sufficient means of subsistence and adequate health insurance coverage or
    • have acquired a permanent right of residence.

Or

  • Although they are not citizens of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, they possess a valid permanent residence permit or a specific other residence permit that entitles them to engage in gainful employment or
  • They are legally recognized refugees or entitled to asylum,

Documents required

  • the tax identification number of the child or children,
  • the tax identification number of the parent applying for child benefit
  • If applicable, additionally: proof of disability
  • If applicable, additionally: proof of the child's school or vocational training.

Please note

The responsible family benefits office checks at regular intervals whether you still meet the requirements for child benefit entitlement. You must inform your family benefits office immediately if anything changes in your circumstances that could affect your child benefit. Examples include: your child dropping out of school, or you or another parent taking up employment abroad.

Deadlines

There is no deadline. Please note that child benefit is paid retroactively for a maximum of 6 months after the application has been received.

Procedure

  • Visit the website of the Federal Employment Agency's Family Benefits Office. There you can submit your application via the provided online service. Alternatively, you can download the application form for written submission and print it out, or request the form by mail.
  • You submit your application, along with any necessary supporting documents, to the relevant authority.
  • The responsible office will review your application and inform you by mail whether you are entitled to child benefit. If you have created a family benefits profile in the online service and consented to online notification, the decision will be available for you to access in your profile.
  • If your application is approved, the family benefits office will pay you the child benefit monthly.

Processing time

Your application for child benefit is usually processed within one month of receipt. If you use the online service of the Family Benefits Office, the processing time is shorter.

Fees

No

Legal remedies

Objection

Legal basis

Section 32 of the Income Tax Act (EStG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/estg/__32.html


Sections 62 to 78 of the Income Tax Act (EStG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/estg/index.html#BJNR010050934BJNE023614123

Links on hamburg.de

Links on the Internet

Address and contact information

Familienkasse Nord

Hamburg location

Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (tel. Contact times).

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Last updated: 08.02.2026