The child supplement (Kinderzuschlag, KiZ) is one of the least-used family benefits in Germany. Many parents on low or middle incomes do not know that they may be entitled to up to 297 € per child a month – on top of child benefit. As of October 2026. This guide explains who is eligible, how the family benefits office calculates it and how to apply.
What is the child supplement?
The child supplement is set out in § 6a of the Federal Child Benefit Act (BKGG). It is meant for parents who earn enough to cover their own living costs but not, or only just, enough for their children. It is paid by the family benefits office (Familienkasse) of the Federal Employment Agency, the same office that pays child benefit.
Together with child benefit, the child supplement is meant to secure a child's subsistence minimum. That is why the maximum amount is linked to the federal government's subsistence minimum report: child supplement plus child benefit for a first child cover one twelfth of a child's tax-free subsistence minimum, excluding the share for education and participation.
How much is the child supplement in 2026?
The maximum is 297 € per child per month. It includes the 25 € immediate supplement that has been paid for children in low-income families since 2022. The amount has applied since 1 January 2025 and stays the same in 2026, because under § 6a (2) BKGG it never falls below the previous year's value. The family benefits office's implementing instructions (as of 20 February 2026) state it explicitly.
| Period | Maximum per child |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 250 € |
| 2024 | 292 € |
| since 1 January 2025 | 297 € |
| 2026 | 297 € (unchanged) |
Together with child benefit of 259 € per child, families receive up to 556 € per child a month. How much actually arrives depends on the parents' income, the child's income and housing costs.
Who is entitled?
Four conditions must be met at the same time:
- Child in the household: the child is under 25, unmarried and not in a civil partnership, lives with you, and you receive child benefit or a comparable benefit for the child.
- Minimum income: the parents together have at least 900 € gross a month, single parents at least 600 €. Child benefit, housing benefit and the child supplement do not count.
- No need for basic income support: with the child supplement, child benefit and any housing benefit, the money covers the whole family's needs under SGB II. If no more than 100 € is missing, extended access applies.
- Income not too high: countable income is not so high that the child supplement drops to zero.
Substantial assets rule out the child supplement, but they only count above 40,000 € for the applicant and 15,000 € for each further family member. Owner-occupied property, a reasonable car and subsidised pension savings are not counted.
The calculation in five steps
The family benefits office always calculates in the same order. With these five steps you can follow your own child supplement. The child supplement calculator does exactly this for you.
Step 1: check the minimum income
First the office checks whether your gross income reaches the minimum of 900 € (couples) or 600 € (single parents). What counts is the average of the six months before the application. Besides wages, unemployment benefit, sickness benefit or parental allowance count too. Anyone who has only received basic income support does not reach the limit.
Step 2: parents' countable income
Tax and social security are deducted from gross pay, which gives net pay. From that the office deducts the earned-income allowance under § 11b SGB II: a 100 € basic amount, 20 % of gross pay between 100 € and 520 €, 30 % between 520 € and 1,000 € and 10 % between 1,000 € and 1,500 € if a minor child lives in the household. The allowance is therefore at most 378 € per working person.
Example: a father earns 2,600 € gross and 1,950 € net. His allowance is 378 €, so 1,572 € counts. The mother has a mini-job paying 520 €. Her allowance is 100 € plus 20 % of 420 €, i.e. 184 €, so 336 € counts. Total: 1,908 €.
Step 3: parents' needs
The parents' needs have three parts. The standard rate in 2026 is unchanged at 563 € for single parents and 506 € per partner for couples. Single parents also get an additional need of 12 to 60 % of the standard rate. On top comes a fixed share of the rent including heating, taken from the 12th subsistence minimum report:
| Children | Single parent | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 77 % | 83 % |
| 2 | 63 % | 71 % |
| 3 | 53 % | 62 % |
| 4 | 46 % | 55 % |
| 5 | 40 % | 50 % |
In the example the family pays 750 € rent including service charges and 110 € heating, 860 € in total. With two children, 71 % is attributed to the parents, i.e. 610.60 €. The parents' needs are 1,012 € plus 610.60 € = 1,622.60 €.
Step 4: deduct the child's income
For each child the calculation starts at 297 €. If the child has income of its own, e.g. maintenance from the other parent or advance maintenance, its child supplement is reduced by 45 % of that income. A child receiving 300 € maintenance therefore gets at most 297 € minus 135 € = 162 €. A child's income only affects that child's own supplement.
Step 5: deduct the parents' excess income
If the parents' countable income is above their needs, the excess is deducted. Earned income reduces the child supplement by only 45 %, other income such as unemployment or sickness benefit in full.
In the example, income of 1,908 € exceeds the needs of 1,622.60 € by 285.40 €. 45 % of that is 128.43 €. The child supplement is 594 € minus 128.43 € = 465.57 €, rounded 466 € a month for both children. Amounts paid out are rounded to full euros under § 11 BKGG.
The cross-check: does the money cover the whole family?
Finally the office checks that, with the child supplement, the family no longer needs basic income support. It compares the whole family's needs under SGB II – standard rates of all members, additional needs and the full rent including heating – with its resources: countable income, the children's maintenance, child benefit, child supplement and housing benefit. Housing benefit is included even if you have not applied for it yet but would probably receive it.
If the money is not enough, there is no child supplement but basic income support from the job centre. The exception is extended access: if no more than 100 € is missing, the parents have earned income with an allowance of at least 100 € and no one in the household receives basic income support, you still get the child supplement. Read more in child supplement and housing benefit or basic income support.
Two official worked examples
The family benefits office's leaflet (July 2026) contains two examples that the calculator reproduces exactly:
- Married couple with three children (8, 10 and 12), rent 900 €: countable income 1,915 €, parents' needs 1,012 € plus 62 % of the rent (558 €) = 1,570 €. Excess 345 €, 45 % of which is 155.25 €. Child supplement: 891 € minus 155.25 € = 735.75 €, rounded 736 €.
- Married couple with one child (8), rent 800 €: countable income 2,100 €, parents' needs 1,012 € plus 83 % of the rent (664 €) = 1,676 €. Excess 424 €, 45 % of which is 190.80 €. Child supplement: 297 € minus 190.80 € = 106.20 €, rounded 106 €.
Is there a maximum income?
There is no fixed limit. The child supplement runs out when 45 % of the excess uses up the maximum amount. With two children that happens at 594 € divided by 0.45 = 1,320 € above the parents' needs. In the example the limit is 1,622.60 € plus 1,320 € = 2,942.60 € of countable income. How much gross pay that is depends on tax class and deductions. More in minimum income and maximum income limit.
Education and participation: the hidden extra
Anyone who receives the child supplement is automatically entitled to education and participation benefits: 195 € school supplies per school year, free lunch at daycare and school, the full cost of trips and class trips and 15 € a month for sport, music or clubs. You can also be exempted from daycare fees. Even a small child supplement of a few euros can therefore be worthwhile. Details in education and participation benefits.
Granted for six months
The child supplement is granted for six months, starting in the month of application. It is based on the average income of the six months before the application. If your income changes during the six months, the amount stays the same. Only if the family changes, for example through a birth or a child moving out, is it recalculated. It is not paid retroactively, so apply sooner rather than later.
How to apply
- Check with the child supplement calculator or the family benefits office's KiZ-Lotse whether you might be eligible.
- Collect your payslips for the last six months, your tenancy agreement or latest service charge statement and proof of maintenance or advance maintenance.
- Apply online with the family benefits office. The award starts in the month of application.
- Apply for housing benefit at your housing benefit office at the same time. Check your entitlement first with the housing benefit calculator.
- With the decision letter, apply for education and participation benefits at your town or district and for the daycare fee exemption at the youth welfare office.
Conclusion
The child supplement is worthwhile for far more families than actually apply. Income matters, but so do rent, number of children and maintenance. Work through your own case with the calculator. The result is an estimate; only the family benefits office decides.
*Sources: § 6a and § 11 BKGG; child supplement implementing instructions of the family benefits office, 20 Feb 2026; child supplement leaflet, July 2026; § 11b, § 20 and § 21 SGB II; 12th subsistence minimum report (Bundestag printed paper 19/5400). As of October 2026.*