🎓 Child benefit for adult children

Up to 25 in training or study: when child benefit continues after the 18th birthday.

child benefit after 18 vocational training university studies transition period voluntary service disability

In brief

Your child turns 18. Child benefit does not end automatically.

It continues if your child, for example:

is under 21, without a job and registered with the employment agency as seeking work,
is under 25 and in training or studying,
has a gap of at most four months between two stages of training,
is doing a recognised voluntary service.

After a first training or first degree, your child may in principle not work more than 20 hours a week.

Step by step

Gather proofHave the training contract or enrolment certificate ready.
Inform the FamilienkasseReport the start and end of the training.
Check working hoursAfter the first training, keep an eye on hours per week.

Deadlines

up to 21

registered as seeking work, not employed§ 32 Abs. 4 EStG

up to 25

in training/studies, transition period of up to 4 months, voluntary service§ 32 Abs. 4 EStG

20 hours/week

Limit on employment after first training/first degree§ 32 Abs. 4 EStG

Watch out – common mistakes

After a completed first training, stricter rules on employment apply.
According to the sources, a training relationship and marginal employment (geringfügige Beschäftigung) are exempt.
Children with a disability that began before their 25th birthday and who cannot support themselves can be taken into account regardless of age.

In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Legal basis

§ 32 Abs. 4 EStG: children are taken into account up to 18; up to 21 if they are not in employment and are registered as seeking work with an employment agency in Germany; up to 25 if they are being trained for a profession, are in a transition period of at most four months, cannot find a training place or are doing a recognised voluntary service. § 2 BKGG contains corresponding rules for the Federal Child Benefit Act.

Employment

After a first vocational training or first degree, a child is taken into account only if it is not in gainful employment; up to 20 hours a week, training relationships and marginal employment do no harm. Further individual cases (second training, study abroad) were not checked.

Who is responsible

Familienkasse

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Child benefit for adult children“?

Up to 25 in training or study: when child benefit continues after the 18th birthday.

Which deadlines and figures matter?

up to 21: registered as seeking work, not employed (§ 32 Abs. 4 EStG)
up to 25: in training/studies, transition period of up to 4 months, voluntary service (§ 32 Abs. 4 EStG)
20 hours/week: Limit on employment after first training/first degree (§ 32 Abs. 4 EStG)

What should I do first?

Gather proof: Have the training contract or enrolment certificate ready.
Inform the Familienkasse: Report the start and end of the training.
Check working hours: After the first training, keep an eye on hours per week.

What do I need to watch out for?

After a completed first training, stricter rules on employment apply.
According to the sources, a training relationship and marginal employment (geringfügige Beschäftigung) are exempt.
Children with a disability that began before their 25th birthday and who cannot support themselves can be taken into account regardless of age.

Evidence

Gesetze im Internet, § 32 EStG, retrieved 20 September 2026
Gesetze im Internet, § 2 BKGG, retrieved 20 September 2026

As of

September 2026 · Sources and method

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