Many working parents who still struggle to make ends meet overlook a payment on top of child benefit: the Kinderzuschlag, or child supplement. It is worth up to €297 per child per month, which already includes a €25 immediate supplement. You apply to the Familienkasse, the same office that pays Kindergeld.
Who qualifies? The child lives in your household, is under 25 and unmarried, and you receive Kindergeld for them. The family must reach a minimum income: €900 gross a month for couples, €600 for single parents. Wages, unemployment benefit and sick pay count; Kindergeld and Wohngeld do not. There is no fixed upper limit any more: it depends on the number and age of the children and on housing costs, and the supplement shrinks gradually rather than stopping abruptly. Assets are only checked if they are substantial. According to the Deutsche Handwerks Zeitung, the thresholds are €55,000 for two people in the household, €70,000 for three and €15,000 more per additional child.
Why it can be worth it. You can receive it without Bürgergeld if the family is no more than €100 short of covering its needs. Anyone entitled to Sozialhilfe has no claim. It also unlocks other help: recipients of Kinderzuschlag or Wohngeld can get education and participation benefits, such as free school and Kita lunches and a €195 school-supplies package, and can be exempted from Kita fees. A child’s own income, such as maintenance or advance maintenance payments, counts only at 45 per cent.
How to apply. First try the KiZ-Lotse on the Federal Employment Agency site to see whether a claim is plausible; it does not calculate the amount. Then apply online or in writing to the Familienkasse. Have proof ready of recent income, housing costs, assets if relevant, and any Elterngeld or BAföG notices. Missing papers can be sent later online via “Mitteilung an die Familienkasse” or by post. Approval usually runs for six months, after which you must reapply; report changes in income or family circumstances at once. Your notice (Bescheid) states the exact period.
For refugees from Ukraine, eligibility depends on residence status and on whether Bürgergeld is already being paid; the Familienkasse points to a dedicated information page. If in doubt, ask a migration counselling service or the Familienkasse directly; the check is free. In our view it is worth trying even if you are just above the limit: the supplement tapers off, and the add-on benefits can be worth more than the payment itself. According to the sources cited, the figures apply from 1 January 2025; your notice is what counts.
Sources: Federal family portal, Federal Employment Agency, Deutsche Handwerks Zeitung, Finanztip
