Filling In the Kindergeld Application – Basic Child Benefit in Germany

Kindergeld is the first thing to claim after a child is born in Germany. It is paid for every child regardless of what the family earns — and yet many families delay the claim for months, which costs real money.

The claim goes to the Familienkasse and consists of a main form plus one annex per child.

Kindergeld and Kinderzuschlag are not the same

A common mix-up worth settling: Kindergeld is basic support for every child and is not tied to family income. Kinderzuschlag is a further supplement on top of it for working families on a low income, with entirely different conditions and a different calculation.

What the video explains

• Who may claim and where the claim goes
• The main form KG 1, field by field
• The child annex KG 1-AnK — one per child
• The tax identification number of the child and the parent, and why the claim is incomplete without it
• The situation of a child over eighteen and what is then required
• The documents to attach and the order to send them in

The official form and the responsible office

The forms come from the Familienkasse itself. The agency also offers a fully online claim for newborns and for children over eighteen, and the forms are available in several languages:

• Official Kindergeld forms page — in seventeen languages, and the online application
• Official Kinderzuschlag forms page

Common mistakes that delay a case

• Sending the main form without the child annex
• Leaving the tax identification number blank — the claim cannot be completed without it
• Delaying the claim after the birth; the backdating period is limited
• Not reporting that a child has moved or changed their course of study
• A mistake in the bank account number (IBAN)

Frequently asked questions

Does Kindergeld depend on my income?
No. It is paid for every eligible child regardless of family income. The income-related one is Kinderzuschlag.

Can I apply online?
Yes. The Familienkasse offers two online routes: one for newborns and one for children over eighteen.

My child is over eighteen — does payment continue?
It may continue under conditions tied to education or vocational training, and further forms are then required.

How long does a decision take?
It varies by office and on whether the papers are complete. A complete claim first time is the fastest route.

Please note: This page explains a form and does not replace the Familienkasse’s decision. Amounts and conditions change with the law.

Watch the video

The video is on the OK+ channel on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQZJ3xd0byU

Also on OK+

• Kinderzuschlag – the three forms
• The short form for extending Kinderzuschlag
• The Elterngeld application

A tool that shortens the road

The OK Plus DE app gathers German administrative calculators and form templates in one place, free, ad-free, in seven languages. Android and iPhone, from the same page:
Get the OK Plus DE app