Low-income families can apply for a child supplement. This is in addition to child benefit. Since January, the child supplement has been increased to 250 euros per child. Here you can find out who is entitled to it.
This article first appeared on RTL.de.
Are you possibly giving away money and maybe not even knowing it? Families with a small income can apply for a child allowance. And in addition to child support. Since January, this supplement has even been increased to 250 euros per child. Since the housing costs and the number of children are also used for the calculation, it could also be interesting for you if you rate your income as not that low. It’s definitely worth checking out.
According to an estimate by the Ministry for Family Affairs, around 2.3 million children in Germany are legally entitled to the child allowance. In December 2022, however, only 800,000 children were reached, according to a spokeswoman on RTL request. One can only speculate as to why so few families call up the money. However, the federal government aims to “reach as many people as possible who are entitled to benefits. Information and advice should help to reduce inhibitions. No family should be ashamed of claiming social benefits from the state,” said the spokeswoman.
We will tell you what you need to know about the child allowance and when it will be paid out.
Entitlement to child allowance? You must meet these requirements
The child allowance is usually granted for a period of six months. It is applied for at the Familienkasse. According to the “Federal Employment Agency”, the prerequisites for the child allowance are that:
- Your child still lives in your household, is under 25 and is not married.
- You receive child benefit (or a similar benefit) for your child.
- You earn at least 900 euros as a couple or 600 euros as a single parent.
- You would have enough money to support your family if you received child allowance or housing benefit in addition to your income.
If you have several children, a total amount will be paid out, the maximum amount per child is 250 euros. It is worth submitting an application as soon as possible, as no child allowance will be paid out retrospectively. By the way: child benefit and child supplement are paid out on the same day.
When is the child allowance paid?
When the child benefit is transferred to you depends on the last digit of your child benefit number. The following applies: the lower the last digit, the earlier in the month the money will be transferred to you. Families with the last digit 0 are the first to receive the money directly at the beginning of the month. Families ending in 9 are paid out at the end of the month.
You can apply for child allowance online. What you need is proof of your income (and that of your partner, if applicable), a statement of your assets and proof of your living expenses.
Sample calculations from the job center for the child allowance
Are you wondering whether you are already or still entitled with your income? A few example calculations from the job center provide orientation. Since the surcharge is calculated individually for each family, no general calculations can be given.
Example 1: Single parent, 1 child
If a single parent pays around EUR 490 in rent including heating for a child, the supplement can be claimed if the gross income is around EUR 1,200 to around EUR 2,700 (child: 6 years of age).
Example 2: Single parent, 2 children
With a rent including heating of around 790 euros, the gross salary with 2 children can be around 950 euros to around 3,900 euros. (Children: 6 and 8 years). Maintenance or maintenance advance were not taken into account.
Example 3: Couple with 2 children
In the case of a couple family with 2 children and rent including heating of around 690 euros, the joint gross income can be around 1,200 euros (single earner) to around 4,100 euros (double earner) (children: 6 and 8 years).
If the rent is higher, for example around 990 euros, the gross salary can be around 1,450 euros (single earner) to around 4,350 euros (double earner) (children: 6 and 8 years).
Example 4: Couple with 3 children
If a couple family with 3 children pays a gross rent of around 990 euros, they can earn around 950 euros (single earner) to around 5,100 euros (double earner) gross (children: 6, 8 and 10 years).
What is checked when applying for child allowance
Your assets will also be checked for the application, but only if they are “considerable”, according to the information from the Federal Employment Agency. So what does that mean?
Considerable wealth is said to exist when two people from the benefit community over 55,000 eurosat three people at 70,000 euros lies. For each additional child is possible 15,000 euros. Cash, savings, securities, building loan contracts, shares and fund shares or real estate are considered, but not the (appropriate) apartment or house that you live in.
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There is also a calculator on the website of the employment agency, the so-called KiZ-Lotsen, with which the child allowance entitlement can be checked individually.
Family Minister: “Many families with low incomes do not know about the child allowance”
“In our country, children live at the subsistence level because their parents do not know that they are entitled to support or that the application process seems too complicated. For example, many families with low incomes do not know about the child allowance. This is another reason why the child allowance should be part of the benefits, which we will bundle in the planned basic child security system,” says Family Minister Lisa Paus when asked by RTL.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
