Are you entitled to Germany's child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) and how much? With the 2026 values under § 6a BKGG: up to 297 € per child, maintenance and advance maintenance, housing cost share, housing benefit and a comparison with basic income support.
As of October 2026. Maximum amount per the child supplement implementing instructions (20 Feb 2026), 2026 standard rates.
| Children | Single parent | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 77 % | 83 % |
| 2 | 63 % | 71 % |
| 3 | 53 % | 62 % |
| 4 | 46 % | 55 % |
| 5 | 40 % | 50 % |
Share of rent incl. heating that counts towards the parents' needs (§ 6a (5) BKGG, 12th subsistence minimum report). The rest is the children's housing need.
Couple means married, in a civil partnership or living together unmarried.
Monthly, for this child. The child's own earnings only after allowances.
Parent 1
Parent 2
Average of the last six months, also from a mini-job or self-employment. Payout according to your payslip, before deductions such as garnishment or savings schemes.
E.g. unemployment benefit, sickness benefit, parental allowance, pension or maintenance for a parent. Do not enter child benefit or housing benefit.
Basic rent plus service charges excluding heating, per month. For owners: interest, property tax, insurance, water.
Monthly instalment for heating and hot water.
See the housing benefit calculator or the official rent level list. Large cities are usually IV to VII, rural areas I to III.
Estimated under § 19 WoGG: €469 a month. If you have a decision letter, enter the amount.
Likely eligible
Your estimated child supplement
€466 per month
2 child(ren) · up to €297 per child · For a six-month award: €2,796
Your income covers your own needs, and with the child supplement, child benefit and housing benefit it covers the whole family. So the child supplement is an option.
Needs covered, surplus €742.00
Needs = standard rates of all family members, additional need for single parents and the full rent including heating. Education and participation do not count (§ 6a (1) no. 3 BKGG).
Minimum income
Parents' countable income
Parents' needs
Maximum amount minus child's income
Deduction of parental income
Result
KiZ = total child supplement, H = 297 € per child, E_K = child's income, E = parents' countable earned income, B = parents' needs
From about €2,943 of countable parental income (after tax, social security and the earned-income allowance) the child supplement drops to zero with your rent and number of children. Your value today: €1,908.00.
With the child supplement your children are entitled to the education package. Apply to your town or district.
Roughly estimated, without housing benefit and child supplement your family would be entitled to about €193 basic income support a month. The job centre also checks whether the rent is reasonable and uses its own allowances.
This calculator reproduces the rules of § 6a BKGG with the 2026 values in simplified form. It assumes that your rent is reasonable, that there are no substantial assets and that your income was the same in the six months before the application. Housing benefit is estimated. Only the family benefits office decides on your application. All information without guarantee.
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Kaffee ausgeben ☕The child supplement is meant for families in which the parents earn enough for themselves but not enough for their children. That is why the office compares the parents' income only with the parents' needs, not with those of the whole family.
The parents' needs are the standard rates (563 € for single parents, 2 × 506 € for couples), the additional need for single parents and a fixed share of the rent including heating. What the parents earn above that reduces the child supplement by 45 %. A child's income reduces only that child's supplement, also by 45 %.
Finally the office checks whether the family can manage without basic income support with the child supplement, child benefit and housing benefit. If up to 100 € is missing, extended access helps.
As of October 2026. Values valid for 2026, maximum amount 297 € since 1 January 2025.
Now check your housing benefit entitlement
Income limits, maintenance, education and participation and the comparison with housing benefit and basic income support.
FeaturedUp to 297 € per child a month: who gets the child supplement, how the family benefits office calculates it, which income limits apply and how to apply.
900 € gross for couples, 600 € for single parents – and no fixed upper limit. How to find out up to which income an application is worthwhile.
Maintenance and advance maintenance reduce the child supplement by only 45 %. With additional needs and a lower minimum income, many single parents should apply.
Anyone who receives the child supplement is automatically entitled to the education package: 195 € school supplies, free lunch, 15 € a month for activities and often no daycare fees.
The child supplement and housing benefit are often paid together, basic income support rules out both. How the family benefits office checks which route applies, including extended access.
Check your housing benefit eligibility
Calculate now →Calculate your basic income support (formerly Bürgergeld) eligibility
Calculate now →Calculate child support using the Düsseldorf Table
Calculate now →What does raising a child cost from 0-18? Childcare, clothing, education
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