Housing benefit (Wohngeld) is a government contribution towards your housing costs. It is a state subsidy intended for those on low incomes to ensure they can afford suitable housing. Generally, in order to qualify for housing benefit, you cannot be in receipt of any other benefit payments, such as unemployment benefit. Housing benefit comes in two different forms.

Rent support (Mietzuschuss)

If you are renting a room or apartment, you can apply for rent support (Mietzuschuss) to help you cover regular expenses like utilities, as well as your rent. 

Home upkeep support (Lastenzuschuss)

If you have bought your property, you can also apply for housing benefit to support you with the costs of owning a home. This may be of help in covering the costs of your mortgage, or to help you with the upkeep of the house. 

Requirements for housing benefit (Wohngeld)

In order to qualify for housing benefit, you need to fulfil the following requirements:

• You live in Germany with a valid residence permit (if applicable).
• You rent an apartment or a room, or you have bought a house or apartment.
• You are registered at the same address.  
• Your household’s combined earnings do not exceed the income threshold (see below).

In addition to this, you are not entitled to housing benefits if you are already receiving any of the following:

• Unemployment benefit II (Arbeitslosengeld II) or social benefit (Sozialgeld)
• Injury benefit
• Basic security benefits in old age
• Cost-of-living assistance

Your application may, however, be considered if receiving housing benefit would prevent you from needing support from other benefit schemes.

Income requirement

In order to be eligible for housing benefit, your household’s total monthly income must not exceed the total income ceilings below (for 2021). These limits vary according to the number of people in your household and your rent band (Mietstufe):

How much housing benefit will I get?

Whether you are eligible for housing benefit, as well as the possible amount you would potentially receive, depend on the number of people in your household, the price of your rent or mortgage and your household’s total monthly income.  

Housing benefit is usually granted for 12 months at a time and is paid in advance into your German bank account. Once your entitlement period has ended, you will need to reapply. You should do this two months in advance to ensure there is no interruption to your payments.

How to apply for housing benefit

To receive housing benefit, you need to submit an application to your local housing benefit office (Wohngeldbehörde - often a branch of your local citizen's office). You will need to fill out a form and prove your eligibility, usually by providing some of the following documents:

• Registration certificate
• Proof of income (e.g. bank statements)
• Rental contract or mortgage agreement
• Proof of living costs (e.g. utility bills)

Once you have submitted your application, it will be considered by the housing benefit authority. You will receive their written decision in the post, outlining the outcome and their reasons along with any possible prerequisites you may need to fulfil to qualify for future housing benefit payments.

All parents in Germany are entitled to benefits to offset the cost of raising children. The German social security system provides various benefits, tax allowances and deductions that families and single parents in Germany can take advantage of. 

Child benefit (Kindergeld)

The child benefit is a monthly payment given to all parents in Germany, regardless of their income, to ensure that their children’s basic needs are covered. The German child benefit is provided by the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) at the Federal Employment Agency.

Who can claim child benefit?

German and EU citizens are entitled to child benefit, as long as your place of residence is in Germany. If you are a foreign national living in Germany, you can receive child benefit if you have a valid temporary residence permit or settlement permit. Usually, you must not be receiving any similar benefit in your home country or anywhere else.

Child benefit can only be claimed by one parent, so married couples will need to decide who receives it. If you and your partner are separated, the parent who has primary custody should claim child benefit. If a child is living with you but you are not their parent, you can still claim child benefit for them.  

Child benefit age limit

Usually, you can continue claiming child benefit until your child reaches the age of 18. There are, however, certain exceptions whereby you can continue to receive payments beyond this age limit:

• If your child is unemployed and registered as a job-seeker with an Employment Agency (up to age 21).
• If your child is in education or training (up to age 25 or the completion of their first vocational qualification or degree).
• If your child has a disability and cannot support themselves (up to age 25).

How much child benefit will I receive?

The child benefit is paid monthly, usually directly into the parent’s bank account or in cash. The same amount is paid to everyone, regardless of the parents’ income, and is dependent on the number of children you have:

• 219 euros each for the first two children.
• 225 euros for the third child.
• 250 euros for the fourth and each additional child.

If you are on a low income you may be eligible for the Family Benefits Office’s supplementary child allowance (see below).

How to apply for child benefit

You can apply for child benefit by submitting a form to your local Family Benefits Office. You can also download and fill out the form in advance from the office's website. You may need to provide your child’s birth certificate and tax ID.

Tax-free allowance for children (Kinderfreibetrag)

Under certain conditions, a tax-free child allowance may also be granted to parents. As of 2021, this is 5.460 euros per child for a married couple or 4.095 euros for a single parent. When assessing your income tax, the tax office (Finanzamt) will compare the amount of child benefit you have already received to the amount you could save if the tax-free child allowance were granted to you.

The option most favourable to you will be chosen by the tax office. If you are granted the child allowance, the tax relief given will be offset against the child benefit payments you have already received.   

Tax deductions for children

Parents can also make further tax savings by deducting their expenses for childcare (up to 4.000 euros a year) and school fees (up to 5.000 euros a year). The tax relief from these allowances will also be balanced against the amount of child benefit you have already received. For more details on how to request tax deductions, visit our Annual tax return page.

Supplementary child allowance (Kinderzuschlag)

As well as child benefit, certain parents are entitled to claim a supplementary child allowance (currently up to 205 euros per month) for each unmarried child who is under the age of 25 and lives in their household. In order to qualify, you need to fulfil certain conditions:

• You receive child benefit for the child.
• You earn at least 900 euros per month before deductions (600 euros for single parents).
• You earn less than the maximum income limit (varies according to the parents’ cost of living and is calculated individually by the Family Benefits Office).

The exact amount you will receive is determined by your income and assets. You can also claim extra assistance for things such as school trips, school supplies and meals. If your child has any income (e.g. maintenance payments), this will be deducted from the supplementary child allowance. You can apply for the supplementary child allowance from the Family Benefits Office at the same time you apply for your child benefit.

Maintenance advance (Unterhaltsvorschuss)

For single parents who receive no maintenance from the other parent, there is a special supplementary payment to help cover costs. The amount of maintenance advance you will receive depends on the child’s age:

* In order to qualify, children above the age of 12 and their parents must not be in receipt of unemployment benefit II.

To apply for the advance, you will need to visit your local Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt), who can provide you with a form to fill out. You will need to bring a valid form of ID, your registration certificate, residence permit (if applicable), and your child’s birth certificate. You will also need to provide proof of your family situation (e.g. proof of divorce or long-term separation).

Federal Parental Allowance (Elterngeld)

New parents who fulfil certain conditions are also eligible for the parental allowance. This income-replacement benefit is important for offsetting the loss of earnings caused by the birth of a child, enabling parents to rest and spend time with their newborn children.

Child sickness benefit (Kinderkrankengeld)

The German name may be very similar, but it's a very different benefit. Child sickness benefit (Kinderkrankengeld) is paid out by the statutory health insurance company if the parent has to take time off work to look after their sick child. 

The high standard of education and lack of tuition fees at most universities makes studying in Germany a particularly attractive option for expats. In 2017, over 350.000 foreign students were enrolled at higher education institutions in Germany, comprising some 13% of the total student population. As German universities seek to attract more foreign students, an increasing number are offering international courses taught in English.

German higher education explained

Just like the primary and secondary school system, higher education in Germany is split into three streams:

• Universities (Universitäten) specialise in research and in-depth, theoretical teaching.
• Universities of applied science (Hochschulen) focus primarily on the application of learning and practical work experience.
• Colleges of art and music (Musik- und Kunsthochschulen) train budding artists, designers, musicians and actors.

More detailed information on the system is contained in our section on higher education in Germany.

Tuition fees & costs of higher education in Germany

Since 2013, tuition fees have been abolished in (almost) all German federal states. Only the state of Baden-Württemberg currently charges fees to international students. This makes the cost of higher education in Germany one of the most affordable worldwide.

Scholarships for international students studying in Germany

Looking for some financial support while you study? There are many scholarships and grants open to international students in Germany, including the Deutschland Stipendium, Erasmus+ programme and DAAD scholarships.

Academic calendar for German universities

The academic year for German universities starts in October and ends in September. It is divided into two terms: the winter semester (Wintersemester), which usually runs from October to March, and the summer semester (Sommersemester), from April to September. There are holidays over the Christmas and Easter periods.

Between the semesters there are also semester breaks (Semesterferien) of approximately six to eight weeks. This time is usually used for writing assignments and studying for exams, although some students also choose to find a job or internship.

German degrees & qualifications

German universities offer both universally-recognised and Germany-specific higher education qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degrees
• Master’s degrees
• PhDs
• Postdoctoral research
• Staatsexamen (State examinations, for certain degree programmes where candidates are entering protected professions, such as doctors, lawyers, teachers and pharmacists, the standard is set by the state, rather than individual universities).

German credit system (ECTS scheme)

As with most universities in Europe, higher education institutions in Germany adhere to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), which was developed to allow students to transfer credits from one university to another. It further enables the comparison of different universities, programmes of study, and even qualifications.

ECT credits represent the workload of a given course and the time an average student needs to achieve the objectives of that programme. 60 credits are equivalent to a full year of study.

University grading in Germany

The German grading system runs from 1 (excellent) to 5 (unsatisfactory). 4 is the minimum standard needed to pass a degree programme.

Entry requirements for universities in Germany

Possessing a university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) entitles you to a place at a German higher education institution (although there may be minimum grade requirements for courses like law and medicine).

If you went to a German school, this qualification is your Abitur. If you went to a foreign school, you will need a recognised equivalent. The DAAD database on admission requirements can tell you whether your leaving certificate is recognised in Germany. If it is not recognised, you may be asked to take an entrance exam or foundation course.  

As well as this qualification, you may need some or all of the following, depending on the university and course you are applying to:

• Visa and residence permit
• Proof of financial resources sufficient to support yourself (see below)
• Proof of German language ability
• Proof of English skills (if applying to an international programme of study)
• Proof of artistic aptitude (if applying to an art or music college)
• Health insurance
• Letter of motivation

Blocked bank account for students in Germany

Students coming to Germany from outside the EU will have to prove that they can cover their living expenses. While there are a number of ways of showing that you can finance your studies, including having your parents submit an income declaration or presenting a bank guarantee, the most common method chosen by most students is to open a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto). This is a special type of bank account that requires the holder to annually deposit a lump sum (10.236 euros in 2020), which can then be withdrawn in smaller monthly pay-outs. 

All parents in Germany are entitled to take time off work if they have to care for a sick child - without having to sacrifice holiday days or income.

In some cases, the parent’s employer may continue paying their salary. Otherwise, the statutory health insurance company will step in to pay something known as the child sickness benefit (Kinderkrankengeld) - a kind of crossover between child benefits and sickness benefits. 

What is child sickness benefit (Kinderkrankengeld)? 

If you cannot work because you have to look after your sick child, German case law stipulates that you should continue to be paid by your employer for up to five working days. To qualify for this, you would need to present a certificate from a doctor to your employer, attesting that your child is sick and requires care at home. 

However, employment contracts and collective agreements in Germany often exclude this possibility, specifying that if the employee is unable to work due to personal reasons, they are not entitled to continued remuneration.

If you have a clause like this in your contract, you can still take leave to care for your child - but it will be unpaid. At this point, the statutory health insurance system steps in to pay out the child sickness benefit (Kinderkrankengeld). 

Requirements for child sickness benefit

You can claim child sickness benefit if all of the following apply:

• You are a waged employee entitled to sickness benefit
• You are covered by statutory health insurance
• Your child is sick and cannot go to school or childcare
• Your child is no older than 12 years (an exception applies to disabled children)
• Your child is also legally insured as a dependant 
• A doctor has certified that your child needs care
• There is no other person in the household who can look after your child

If you or your child are covered by private health insurance, you are not entitled to the child sickness benefit. If you are insured in the PKV scheme, check with your insurance company to see if they provide a similar sort of benefit. 

How much child sickness benefit (Kinderkrankengeld) will I get?

The amount of child sickness benefit you will receive depends on your regular salary. Statutory health insurance companies will pay up to 90 percent of your lost net earnings. Up to 100 percent may be paid if you received one-off payments such as holiday or Christmas bonuses in the 12 months before drawing the benefit. 

However, the benefit is capped at 70 percent of the contribution assessment ceiling for health insurance, which in 2021 is 4.837,50 euros per month. The gross maximum amount of child sickness benefits paid out in 2021 is therefore 112,88 euros per day. Bear in mind that contributions for pensions, long-term care and unemployment insurance will also be deducted from your child sickness benefit. 

Note that any child sickness benefit you receive may count as regular income in the calculation of other >social security benefits like housing benefit. For instance, if you have claimed Kinderkrankengeld in the past year - and thereby reduced your overall income - it will affect the amount of parental allowance you are entitled to receive, since this benefit is both calculated based on your income over past 12 months. 

How long can I claim child sickness benefit for?

Each parent is entitled to up to 10 days of child sickness benefit per child, per calendar year, up to a maximum of 25 days in total. Single parents can claim up to 20 days per child - or a maximum of 50 days per year. 

Parents of terminally ill children can receive child sickness benefit for an unlimited period of time. In this instance, the child doesn’t necessarily have to live in the household of the insured person and be cared for there. For instance, they might be housed in a hospital or hospice. 

How to apply for child sickness benefit (Kinderkrankengeld)

To apply for child sickness benefit, you first need to get a certificate from your regular family doctor, stating that you cannot work due to the need to care for your sick child. This form is known as the “Ärztliche Bescheinigung für den Bezug von Krankengeld bei Erkrankung eines Kindes” (medical certificate for receipt of sickness benefit in the event of a child’s illness). 

On the bottom or rear side of this form is a part that you need to fill out to apply for the sickness benefit. You need to provide details about your German bank account and your employer. 

You then need to send both the doctor’s certificate and your signed application form to your employer and your health insurance company. Your health insurer may also ask for a certificate of earnings from your employer, in order to be able to calculate how much sick pay you should receive. The benefit will then be paid directly into your bank account. 

Child sickness benefit & Unemployment benefits

You can also claim the child sickness benefit if you are in receipt of unemployment benefits. You will need to present the doctor’s certificate to your local employment agency to let them know that you will be unable to attend any appointments. In this instance, you do not need to contact your health insurance provider. 

Unemployed people are entitled to the same number of child sickness benefit days as employed people - but claiming child sickness benefit will not extend the total duration of your unemployment benefit entitlement. 

Child sickness benefit (Kinderkrankengeld) & Corona

In 2020 and 2021, with schools across Germany being forced to close due to COVID-19, the federal and state governments agreed to increase parents’ entitlement to the child sickness benefit: between October 29 and December 31, 2020, each parent can claim up to 15 days per child, up to a maximum of 35 days. Single parents receive up to 70 days. 

The entitlement has also been increased for 2021, so that each parent can claim up to 20 days per child (40 days per child for single parents). For parents with more than two children, the maximum entitlement in 2021 is 90 days. 

The rules have also been shifted so that, instead of just applying in cases where a sick child needs to be taken care of, the benefit will now also be made available when parents have no option but to care for their child at home - for instance if schools or daycare facilities are closed, if compulsory attendance has been lifted, or parents have been officially advised not to send their children to school. 

In these instances, a doctor's certificate will not be required. Parents must simply apply to their health insurance company. The insurer may ask for a certificate or official letter from the school or daycare centre to confirm that the child cannot or is not attending.