Child benefits | Neotax

FAQ

• 1. What is a „child benefit“?
  • Child benefit is money granted to parents for their children, regardless whether the parent is in employment or the income level.

• 2. How much money can you get?

  • 2018 (monthly)	From July 2019 (monthly)
    for 1st and 2nd child 194 Euro	for 1st and 2nd child 204 Euro
    for 3rd child 200 Euro	for 3rd child 210 Euro
    for every next 225 EUR	for every next 235 EUR

• 3. Can you get child benefits from your home country and abroad at the same time?
  • Yes, you can be receiving the child benefits in your home country and also apply for them abroad. The benefits from foreign country will be calculated in such a way that the final sum of the benefits from both countries will be equal to the maximum amount in foreign country.

• 4. What is the maximum age of a child?
  • Maximum age is 18, though it can continue until they are 25 if they are still in school.

• 5. Who can get child benefits from Germany?
  • All citizens of European Union, Switzerland, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Algeria, Kosovo, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. Parents are entitled to family allowance if their centre of life is in Germany and their child (which can also be an adopted child, a foster child, a stepchild) lives together with them in the same household.

• 6. Which parent can apply for child benefits?
  • Basically, there might be these situations:

    • if you are married, any of you - parents can apply for this benefit
    • if you are not married or divorced, only the mother can apply
    • if you are divorced AND the child is living with the father (father is the only legal guardian), only the father can apply

• 7. How do you prove where your child is living?
  • In case your family is living in another country (while you live and work abroad), you will need to get E401 form. This confirms the family condition (e.g. you are not divorced and the child is not living only with the mother) and the address where the child is living. This document is filled out and stamped by the city hall.

• 8. What if your permanent residency address in your home country is different from your spouse?
  • You will need to have the document E401 filled out and stamped by the city hall.

• 9. What if you live and work abroad and your family is in another country?
  • You can apply even in this case. You will need to prove that you are actually living in a foreign country. To prove that you live abroad, you need to submit confirmation that you are registered temporarily in this specific country. This confirmation is issued by the city hall. You should be registered from the beginning of your foreign stay.

• 10. How do you prove that you lived abroad, if you were not registered there?
  • In case you did not register at the foreign country, after you arrived to live and work there, you would need to prove your stay with bills related to it. This can be: rental contract, utility bills, such as by electricity/gas company.

• 11. How many years back can I apply for child benefits?
  • You can apply 6 months back.

• 12. Is there a deadline during the year to apply?
  • No, you can apply anytime of the year, even if you are still living in the country and plan to live there further.

• 13. What is the minimum amount of months to apply?
  • The minimum is one month and it is calculated as the entire month. For example, if you arrived in the country in mid November, you can apply for that given year from December 1st.

• 14. How is the sum of child benefits calculated?
  • We apply for child benefits in foreign country's office. The office sends confirmation letter by mail, stating the amount of money to be paid.

• 15. How long does it take to get child benefits?
  • It takes from 6 to 9 months on average.

• 16. What is the fee for the service?
  • There is a flat rate of 99 EUR + 9 % from the total amount you receive. It is payable, when the amount of child benefit is received.