👨👧 Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag)
In brief
The child supplement tops up child benefit for families whose own income is enough for themselves but not for their children. As a single parent you need a monthly minimum income of €600 for it (couples: €900) – in addition you must be entitled to child benefit and must not be in need of basic income support once you receive the child supplement.
A monthly immediate supplement of €25 per child is added to the child supplement. The child supplement is granted for six months at a time and is not re-adjusted to fluctuating income during that time, except in case of significant changes.
Step by step
- Check minimum incomeShow a gross income of at least €600 per month (as a single parent).
- Apply at the FamilienkasseSubmit the application for child supplement to the Familienkasse of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), ideally together with the child benefit application.
- Consider housing benefit tooCheck in parallel whether you are entitled to housing benefit – child supplement and housing benefit are often needed together to avoid need for assistance.
- Use the approval periodThe supplement is granted for six months; report only significant changes in income, smaller fluctuations generally have no effect during this period.
- Reapply in good timeSubmit a follow-up application before the six months expire so that payment is not interrupted.
Deadlines
- If you fall below the minimum income of €600 (single parent), the entitlement to child supplement lapses completely – then generally only basic income support comes into consideration.
- The child supplement is reduced if your child has own income, such as maintenance or advance maintenance payment – factor this in beforehand.
- The exact monthly maximum amount per child is not a fixed euro amount but depends on the tax-free subsistence minimum of a child, set anew each year, plus the immediate supplement – do not rely on older figures from the internet.
- Child supplement and basic income support are mutually exclusive – anyone who would remain in need despite child supplement has no entitlement to child supplement and must apply for basic income support.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Requirements in detail (§ 6a BKGG)
Persons are entitled to child supplement for unmarried children under 25 living in their own household if they receive child benefit for them, show a minimum income of €900 gross (couples) or €600 (single parents) and the payment of the child supplement means they are not, or no longer, in need under SGB II (with limited exceptions under § 6a Abs. 1a BKGG).
Calculation of the maximum amount
The maximum amount per child corresponds to one twelfth of the tax-free material subsistence minimum of a child (excluding the education share), plus an immediate supplement of €25 per month (§ 6a Abs. 2 BKGG). The specific euro amount recalculated from this each year was not checked in this research against an individual official source for 2026 – see Sources and Methodology.
Reduction through income
The supplement is reduced by 45 percent of the child's income to be taken into account. If the parents' income exceeds their own need, the exceeding part of earned income is likewise counted at 45 percent, other exceeding income in full.
Relationship to other benefits
Child supplement, housing benefit and education and participation benefits are often needed and applied for together to avoid need within the meaning of SGB II. In practice the Jobcenter, the Familienkasse and the housing benefit office do not always check the most favourable combination on their own.
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