You apply for child benefit in writing using the form provided. You also have the option of completing the applications for child benefit from birth and the application for child benefit for children upon reaching the age of majority online. You can upload supporting documents directly. The data will then be transmitted directly to the family benefits office.
For an electronic application with an electronic proof of identity:
- Go to the website of the Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency and access the online application. For authentication you need either
- the new ID card with online ID function or
- the eID card for EU citizens and nationals of the European Economic Area or
- an electronic residence permit or
- an ELSTER certificate.
- Fill out the online application. The completed online application will be sent to the family benefits office.
- For the application for child benefit from birth and for children upon reaching the age of majority, you can additionally upload supporting documents and transmit them to the Family Fund.
For analog application submission:
If you do not wish to use electronic application, you must apply for child benefit in writing. To do this, you can have the completed online application sent to you for signature or print out the form yourself. Please send the signed application by mail to your responsible family benefits office.
- Go to the website of the family benefits office of the Federal Employment Agency, call up the online application and fill it out accordingly.
- Print out the completed application or have it printed out and sent via the family benefits office.
- You can also print out the application form directly and fill it out by hand.
- Please use the forms for your application that you can obtain from your responsible family benefits office or on the website of the Federal Employment Agency.
- Send the signed application by mail to the family benefits office responsible for you.
- The family benefits office will inform you by mail whether you are entitled to child benefits.
- If your application is approved, the Familienkasse will pay you the child benefit each month.
- If you work in the public sector or receive pension benefits, you may receive the child benefit from your employer or employer's employer, unless the employer has waived its special responsibility. In this case, you must also submit the application to your employer.
You must notify your family benefits office immediately if there is any change in your circumstances that could affect child benefits (for example, your child drops out of school, you or another parent take up employment abroad).