Family Benefits Overview

At a glance

• Where: Each benefit has its own office: Familienkasse, Elterngeldstelle, Jugendamt, Krankenkasse
• Deadline: Kindergeld: 6 months back · Elterngeld: 3 months back · Unterhaltsvorschuss: 1 month back
• Overview: Familienportal (federal)

This is an overview of the main family benefits in Germany in 2026. Each one has its own office and rules; follow the links for details.

Pregnancy and birth

• Mutterschaftsgeld: up to 13 € a day from the Krankenkasse plus the employer top-up during maternity leave (Mutterschutz).
• Bundesstiftung Mutter und Kind: one-off help in financial need, applied for during pregnancy via a counselling centre.

For all families

• Kindergeld: 259 € per child a month (Kindergeld).
• Elterngeld: 300–1,800 € a month after the birth (Elterngeld).
• Kinderkrankengeld: in 2026, 15 working days per child and parent when your child is sick (single parents 30).
• Kita place: legal right from age 1 (Kita Guide).
• Pension credits: up to 3 years per child (Your Pension and Children).

On a low income

• Kinderzuschlag: up to 297 € per child a month, from the Familienkasse.
• Wohngeld: housing allowance from your city or district.
• Bildung und Teilhabe: help for Kita lunches, trips and activities.
• Grundsicherungsgeld (formerly Bürgergeld) if income is not enough to live on.

Single parents

• Unterhaltsvorschuss and tax relief; see Support for Single Parents.

The federal Familienportal explains every benefit and has online calculators and applications.

Sources

• Familienportal, Federal Family Ministry (BMBFSFJ)
• Leistungen für Alleinerziehende 2026, BMBFSFJ (amounts for 2026)
• Child benefit, Familienkasse of the Federal Employment Agency