Life is expensive, and even more so with children. Parents spend several hundred euros per child on average – every month! Here is a first overview of financial support for families and during pregnancy – from education and participation to advance maintenance payments (Unterhaltsvorschuss). Special conditions may apply to the self-employed and those with private health insurance. Find out early if this applies to you.
Federal Foundation “Mother and Child” – Financial Support During Pregnancy
Pregnant people with little money can apply for various grants from the Federal Foundation Mother and Child (Bundesstiftung Mutter und Kind). These include money for baby clothing, a pram or a washing machine. If you receive Citizen’s Income (Grundsicherung, formerly ALG II/Hartz IV/Bürgergeld) or social assistance, these grants will not be offset against your benefits – you can keep the money. An application can be made again for each pregnancy. Important: Applications to this foundation are only possible during the pregnancy, not after the birth. The application must be submitted at a state-recognized pregnancy counselling centre. There, we’ll also provide you with information about other financial assistance options during pregnancy. Find a counselling centre
Maternity Pay & Parental Allowance
In the weeks before and after the birth, pregnant people are not required to work. If you are employed or self-employed and entitled to sickness benefit, you will receive maternity pay (Mutterschaftsgeld). The application is usually made through the health insurance. Maternity pay is paid for six weeks before the calculated due date and eight weeks after the birth. In case of premature births, multiple births or babies with severe disabilities, apply for an extension immediately after the birth; pay will then be available for twelve weeks.
After the end of maternity leave, one parent usually stays at home for a while to care for the baby, or both parents reduce their working hours. Parental allowance (Elterngeld) partly compensates for the loss of income. At our counselling centres, we can inform you about parental allowance, how it can be split between both parents, and we can help you complete the applications. To estimate the amount of parental allowance, you can use the parental allowance calculator on the German Federal Government’s family portal.
Child Benefit – Money for All Families
The state pays child benefit (Kindergeld) for children, at minimum until their 18th birthday. Children who are in school or training receive child benefit until their 25th birthday. Child benefit must be applied for by one parent after the birth. Parents with a low income may also be entitled to a child supplement (Kinderzuschlag). Child benefit is applied for at the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) of the Federal Employment Agency. You will need the child’s tax identification number (Steuer-ID) and that of the parent applying. With an ID with online function or an Elster certificate, you can apply for child benefit online.
Parents with a high income receive a tax allowance instead of child benefit. However, they should still apply for child benefit; the tax office automatically offsets both entitlements in the tax return.
“Housing benefit, parental allowance, child supplement – you have to apply for everything at different offices. That really overwhelmed me. The counselling helped me enormously to find my way.”
Maintenance & Advance Maintenance Payments
If parents do not live together, one parent is generally required to pay maintenance. Single parents receive maintenance from the other parent. Even if both parents share care of the child in alternation, a maintenance entitlement may exist – whenever both parents earn different amounts.
Single parents who do not receive maintenance from the other parent may be entitled to advance maintenance payments (Unterhaltsvorschuss). This is applied for at the Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt). The Youth Welfare Office will later seek to recover the amounts paid from the other parent.
Housing Benefit & Child Supplement
Those who earn little often have an entitlement to housing benefit (Wohngeld) – a state subsidy for rent. The costs of owner-occupied property can also be subsidised. An entitlement to housing benefit may arise or increase with the birth of a child, as more people then need to live on the same income. The housing benefit calculator can give you an estimate of whether you would receive housing benefit. Parents who receive housing benefit often also have a claim to child supplement (Kinderzuschlag). This can be checked online via the KiZ-Lotsen tool. We are happy to help you check your entitlement and apply for housing benefit and child supplement.
Grundsicherung (formerly ALG II / ‘Hartz IV’ / Bürgergeld)
Those who have no or far too little income of their own are generally entitled to Grundsicherung or social assistance. But nothing is paid without an application. At the pregnancy counselling centre, you can find out what money you are entitled to and how to obtain it.
Pregnant people receiving Grundsicherung can apply to the job centre for additional funds from week 13 of pregnancy. Pregnant people under 25 are treated as their own benefit unit, even if they still live with their parents. There are also grants for initial equipment (baby clothing, high chair, youth bed). After the birth, the entitlement of the ‘benefit unit’ increases, as children also have their own entitlement to Grundsicherung.
DON’T FORGET: Additional needs. In these cases, recipients of Grundsicherung receive more money, but it must be applied for separately:
- If hot water in the home is produced via a boiler or instantaneous water heater
- For pregnant people from week 13 of pregnancy
- For single parents
- For separated parents using an alternating care model
- For people with disabilities (also applies to children)
- For people who require a special diet for medical reasons (medical certificate required)
- For exercising contact rights (e.g. if the child lives in another city; individual decision, no legal entitlement)
- For people with severe disabilities who receive participation in working life or support for school and higher education
You can find detailed information in this guide to Bürgergeld: Ratgeber des Paritätischen Wohlfahrtsverbandes zum Bürgergeld (PDF).
Education and Participation – Financial Support for Children
If you receive social benefits – such as housing benefit, child supplement, Citizen’s Income or benefits under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act – your children are entitled to ‘benefits for education and participation’. These can be used to pay for school materials, class trips, club memberships and tutoring. Lunch at a day nursery, after-school care or school is also included. Please note that these benefits are not granted automatically and must be applied for separately.
Further Financial Support During Pregnancy and for Families
Many federal states or municipalities offer additional financial support for pregnant people and families. These can include subsidies towards day nursery fees, free leisure activities or foundations that support families with low income. Keeping track of all this can be challenging, especially as many regulations change frequently.
Local pregnancy counselling centres are generally well-informed about financial subsidies. You may receive counselling until your child’s third birthday. Thinking about having another child may also be a good reason to have an informed finance check. This counselling is free of charge. Feel free to come several times to discuss your current financial situation with us.
Stand der Informationen: 21.07.2026
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