Child maintenance payments in Germany are expected to rise in 2023

December 26, 2022

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Child maintenance payments in Germany are expected to rise in 2023

In Germany, all parents are eligible for benefits to assist with the costs of raising children. The German social security system offers a variety of benefits, tax breaks, and deductions to families and single parents in Germany. In Germany, the Child maintenance payments in Germany are expected to rise in 2023. Parents will have to spend an extra 50 euros & 50 cents/per month to support their children.

Child benefit (Kindergeld)

The child benefit is a monthly payment made to all parents in Germany, regardless of income, to meet their children’s basic requirements. The Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) of the Federal Employment Agency administers the German child benefit.

Who is eligible to get child benefit?

As long as you live in Germany, German and EU nationals are eligible for child benefit. If you are a foreign citizen residing in Germany and have a valid temporary residence visa or settlement permit, you can get child benefits. In most cases, you must not be getting any equivalent benefit in your native country or elsewhere. Because child benefit may only be claimed by one parent, married couples must select who receives it. If you and your partner are divorced, the parent with primary custody should file for child support. If you live with a child but are not their parent, you can still claim child benefit on their behalf.

Age restriction for child benefits

You may usually continue to receive child benefit until your child reaches the age of 18. There are, however, several exceptions that allow you to continue receiving payments beyond reaching the age of 65:

(a) If your child is unemployed and enrolled with an Employment Agency (up to age 21).
(b) If your youngster is in school or training (up to age 25 or the completion of their first vocational qualification or degree).
(c) If your child is disabled and unable to support oneself (up to age 25).

Child maintenance in Germany will rise in 2023.

The maintenance of children and young people whose parents are divorced will rise in 2023. This applies to both young children and individuals who have achieved the age of majority, according to the Düsseldorf Table. Simultaneously, the amounts for self-support for people who must pay alimony will be enhanced. This is the outcome of the so-called “new Düsseldorfer Tabelle” announced by the Higher Regional Court (OLG) of North Rhine-metropolis, Westphalia’s Düsseldorf.

As a result, children under the age of six will be entitled to a minimum monthly maintenance of 437 euros, an increase of 41 euros – a considerable increase over the three-euro increase from 2021 / 2022. The minimum monthly payout for youngsters aged six to eleven is increasing by 47 euros to at least 502 euros. Parents must pay at least 588 euros per month for children aged 12 to 17. Children over the age of 18 who are still in school will get 628 euros a month approx.

However, they are the minimum amounts and are raised upwards based on the parent’s income, in accordance with the rates outlined in the so-called Düsseldorf Table.