Child benefit
Parents are entitled to child benefit until their child's 18th birthday if the child lives in Germany, in a Member State of the European Union or in a state to which the Agreement on the European Economic Area applies. If your child is training or studying, the entitlement is extended to a maximum of 25 years.
Citizens of member states of the European Union and Switzerland, as well as Germans, usually have a claim to child benefit if they are gainfully employed in Germany or live in Germany. For eligible nationals of the Member States of the European Union, the European Economic Area (Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Cyprus) and Switzerland have the same conditions for entitlement to child benefit as for German citizens.
Other foreign parents are in principle entitled to child benefits if they have a settlement permit or a residence permit that entitles to gainful employment.
Foreigners who are in Germany, for example, for the purpose of education and training, have no entitlement to child benefit. This also applies to persons who, as asylum seekers, have a residence permit or are only tolerated in the Federal territory.
The child benefit is granted on application to the Family Fund of the Employment Agency. Family funds in your area can be found on the Familienwegweiser.de http://www.familien-wegweiser.de/wegweiser/Familie-regional/Kindergeld/kindergeld.html
The child allowance can also be applied for online via the website of the Federal Employment Agency at www.arbeitsagentur.de/familie-und-kinder/kindergeld-online.
Child benefit offices Berlin: http://www.kindergeld.org/familienkassen/berlin.html
Children surcharge
Parents or guardians who receive child benefit can apply for additional children surcharge. The child supplement offers financial support to families on a low income. To obtain it, these requirements must be met:
• You receive child benefit (or equivalent) for the child.
• Your gross income is at least 900 euros (parents) or 600 euros (single parents).
• Your gross income does not exceed the maximum income threshold.
• Together with the child supplement you have so much income that you are not entitled to unemployment benefit II or social benefits.
The child supplement is paid together with the child benefit.
Benefits from the education and participation package
In particular, children, adolescents and young adults who receive unemployment benefit II, social allowance or social assistance or whose parents receive the child allowance or housing benefit, have a legal right to benefits for education and participation. Even those who receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act may be entitled to the education package. In addition, there may be an entitlement to benefits from the educational package if the child or his / her parents do not otherwise receive any of the above-mentioned benefits but cannot satisfy the specific education and participation needs of the child.
The benefits of the education and participation package include:
• one-day school and kindergarten excursions
• multi-day school and kindergarten trips
• the personal school supplies
• the transport of pupils to school
• Learning support
• Participation in lunch at school or daycare facilities
• participation in social and cultural life in the community.
These benefits may be granted in cash or in kind.
Where you can apply for the benefits of the education and participation package on site can be found at: http://www.bmas.de/DE/Themen/Arbeitsmarkt/Grundsicherung/Leistungen-zur-Sicherung-des-Lebensunterhalts/Bildungspaket/Laenderuebersicht/inhalt.html