The Federal Employment Agency (BA) paid out child benefits (Kindergeld) for 17.62 million children last year. Additionally, the families of 1.33 million children received a child allowance (Kinderzuschlag), which is intended for families with low and middle incomes, the agency announced on Thursday. The data shows that the BA spent a total of 54.54 billion euros on child benefits and 2.96 billion euros on the child allowance in 2024.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, the number of child benefit recipients has been steadily increasing in recent years. In 2010, child benefits were paid out for 14.5 million children. This number rose to 16.3 million in 2020 and finally reached 17.5 million in 2023. The child benefit is currently 255 euros per month.
Parents can apply for the child allowance, which is a maximum of 297 euros per month, in addition to their child benefits. It is paid for six months, after which a new application must be submitted. "The child allowance supports parents with low and middle incomes who earn enough for themselves, but not enough for the whole family," explained board member Vanessa Ahuja. According to the BA, more than half of all applications were submitted digitally.
To be eligible for the child allowance, families must have a minimum gross monthly income of 900 euros for couples and 600 euros for single parents. The child benefit and the child allowance are both transferred on the same day of the month. The BA reported that an "increasing level of awareness" in recent years has led to higher demand from low-income families. While the child allowance was paid for an average of 270,000 children in 2019, that number had grown to around 1.3 million children in 2024.
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