The Federal Child Support for Needy Families (»Kinderzuschlag«) is meant to prevent need for help in terms of the regualtion of Unemployment Benefit II. Families shall not receive Unemployment Benefit II due to the fact that they have children, if the parents can cover their minimum demands themselves.

If the parental income exceeds this minimum limit and falls short of the maximum limit (minimum income limit plus 140 €), parents are entitled to child support amounting up to 140 € per child who lives in the parental household, gets child allowance and is not older than 25 years.

In general, for the assessment of the income each kind of income is taken into account apart from child allowance, housing benefit, basic amount of the parents’ money (300 €) and attendance allowance.

The child support for needy families must be separately applied for at the Department for Child and Family Services of the Employment Agency (Familienkasse der Bundesagentur für Arbeit).

You will find further information concerning entitlement, income not subject to set-off as well as a child support calculator at the Familien-Wegweiser des Bundesministeriums für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (Family Guide of the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth) or at the handout Merkblatt Kinderzuschlag (Federal Child Support for Needy Families) of the ministry.