Overview
- From January 1, 2026, child benefit is €259 per month per child, a €4 monthly increase worth €48 per year.
- The Federal Employment Agency has published the 2026 payment calendar, with transfer dates determined by the final digit of the Kindergeld number.
- The Familienkasse applies the higher amount without a new request, while new claimants must file an application to start receiving Kindergeld.
- Supplementary support such as the Kinderzuschlag is not automatic and can add several hundred euros per child for eligible low- and middle‑income households.
- The increase follows the staged changes in the Steuerfortentwicklungsgesetz passed in December 2024, as regional shifts like Bavaria’s scrapped Familygeld and the canceled €3,000 Kinderstartgeld reduce local support for some families.