Families in Germany can rely on a wide range of state benefits. Child benefit (Kindergeld), tax allowances (Steuerfreibeträge) and parental allowance (Elterngeld) help all parents to meet part of the costs of raising children. Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag), education and participation benefits (Leistungen für Bildung und Teilhabe), maintenance advance payments (Unterhaltsvorschuss) and tax relief for single parents (steuerlicher Entlastungsbetrag für Alleinerziehende) are specific benefits for low-income families and for single parents.
Financial support for parents and children
Parental allowance (Elterngeld) is designed to give parents the opportunity to spend time with their child, especially during the child's first year, without suffering high financial loss. Parental allowance thus compensates for the loss of income when a parent stops working or reduces working hours to look after a newborn child. The allowance ranges from a minimum of 300 euros to a maximum of 1,800 euros per month. Parents have twelve monthly amounts at their disposal, which they can split between them. But they can only receive parental allowance simultaneously for one month within the first twelve months. This does not apply to parents of premature babies, multiple births, children or siblings with disabilities. If both parents claim parental allowance and they lose income from work, parental allowance is paid for two additional months.
Parental allowance plus (Elterngeld Plus) helps parents who want to return to work earlier. It is calculated in the same way as parental allowance, but it only amounts to a maximum of half the parental allowance that the respective parent would be entitled to after the birth without a part-time income. If parents work part-time after the birth, monthly parental allowance plus can be just as high as the monthly basic parental allowance with a part-time job. With parental allowance plus parents can extend the period in which they receive parental allowance.
Parental Allowance Plus is supplemented by the partnership bonus (Partnerschaftsbonus): if both parents work between 24 and 32 hours a week, they each receive parental allowance plus payments for two, three or four additional months.
Child benefit (Kindergeld) is paid to all families, regardless of their income: for all children up to the age of 18, for unemployed children up to the age of 21 and for children studying or in professional training up to the age of 25. From 2025, child benefit amounts to 255 euros per month and per child.
Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) is paid to parents who earn enough to cover their own living expenses, but whose income is not or is only barely enough to cover all the family's needs. In 2025, child supplement amounts to a maximum of 297 euros per month and per child. It is paid for each unmarried child under 25 years of age that still lives in the parents' household and for whom child benefit is paid if certain other conditions are met. In addition to child supplement, recipients can also receive education and participation benefits (Leistungen für Bildung und Teilhabe), such as a free lunch at school and in child daycare facilities as well as a school supplies package (Schuldbedarfspaket) amounting to 195 euros in 2025 to cover the cost of school supplies needed for one school year. Moreover, recipients are exempt from child daycare fees.
There is a range of special financial provisions available for single parents. Single parents, for example, benefit from tax relief to help them ease the particular financial burden of being solely responsible for the family and home. The relief effectively reduces a single parent's taxable income.
Maintenance advance (Unterhaltsvorschuss) is provided as a special form of financial assistance to help single parents with children under 18 who receive no maintenance or no regular maintenance payments from the other parent. Currently, maintenance advance amounts to 227 euros for children under six, 299 euros for children aged six to eleven and 394 euros for children aged twelve to seventeen. The single parent can claim the advance regardless of their income.
Maternity leave (Mutterschutz) serves to protect the health of pregnant or breastfeeding women and their (unborn) children, to protect them against discrimination and also to empower women to decide at their own discretion whether they work or not. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are to be legally protected against dangers, overexertion and health hazards at the workplace.
Maternity allowance (Mutterschaftsgeld) is a benefit provided during the protected period before and after birth to ensure safety and health at work for pregnant employees and their unborn children, for employees who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding. Maternity leave lasts at least 14 weeks, six weeks of which are before and eight weeks after the birth. During this time, women are protected against financial loss. From the beginning of their pregnancy to the end of maternity leave, but for at least four months after giving birth, women are also protected against dismissal.
Better access to family benefits through digitalisation
In spite of the wide range of benefits for families, it seems like there is a disproportionately low uptake among socio-economically disadvantaged families who might need them the most. Families may find it difficult to access these benefits for a variety of reasons, including being unaware of certain benefits as well as a lack of knowledge, skills and other resources required for completing the application forms.
The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs offers online information on all family-related benefits, some of which are administered by the federal states. The central information website using simple language aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of the family welfare system as well as offering support for families is called Familenportal. Its content covers different stages of life ranging from pregnancy to issues relevant for older people.
The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs has supported the development of online application forms for family benefits. For example, parents can use parental allowance digital, child support advance payments online or child supplement digital when applying. Instead of copying the long-winded and complicated paper forms, the online versions are interactive, easy to use and shorten the time needed to fill in the forms. In addition, they detect errors that might occur when applicants fill in their data. Consequently, the digital application assistants reduce the time needed for government agencies to process the applications. The overall aim is to offer a low-effort and completely paper-free application process to families, with digital signatures, digital data transfer to the responsible government agencies and the option to upload necessary documents.