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Unlike in most other countries, in Germany all children have the right to child benefit until the age of 18. After turning 18, children are entitled to child benefit under certain conditions.
Child benefit is paid to young people aged 18 to 25 in the following cases:
You can receive child benefit for your adult child when they first finish school, vocational training or study.
If your child attends other education (school, vocational training or studies) and works up to 20 hours a week, you can receive child benefit. How much he earns with this profession is not important.
You are also entitled to child benefit if your child works a “Minijob” in addition to his other education. If your child is in a transition period, for example between leaving school and starting an apprenticeship, you can still receive child benefit. This only applies if the transitional period does not exceed a period of 4 months.
From 2023, parents receive 250 euros per month for each child. Until 2023, there was a difference in the amount of child allowance, depending on the number of children in the household.
After you have applied for child benefit, you will receive a child benefit number, which in principle goes like this 003FK850454, the last digit in this series of numbers indicates the date by which you will check the payment date of the month.
If the children are in Croatia and you work in Germany. You must apply for child benefit in both countries, regardless of whether or not you are entitled to child benefit in Croatia. You need a decision from Croatia because of the child benefit that will be approved in Germany.
You can get arrears back 6 months from the date you submitted your request. As soon as you arrive in Germany, arrange the basic papers and settle in, start with the request, because the first request can take a long time due to communication between the government services of Germany and mother country.
The Office for Family Benefits (Familinekasse) and mother country communicate through official channels. That part varies between a month and even three months. You have to be patient.
In the event that the parents are separated, the child benefit is paid to the person with whom the children are. The same person submits an application for child allowance to the Familienkassi (in case the parents do not communicate). If you have any other problem and cannot reach your spouse in Germany, you can send a signed statement about the problem that prevents you from providing some of the requested documents.
