What social benefits are there in Germany for families with low income?
There isn't one single family benefit, but rather a modular system. These five benefits are the most important ones for families with low income – each has a different target group and its own authority:
| Benefit | For whom? | Responsible authority | Amount 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Benefit (Kindergeld) | almost every family, no matter how much they earn | Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) | 259 € per child/month |
| Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag) | parents who work but are just getting by | Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) | up to 297 € per child/month |
| Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) | households with low income (rent/ownership) | local Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldstelle) | individual |
| Education Package (Bildungspaket) | children whose parents receive Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag), Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) or Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) | local authority / Jobcenter | benefits in kind and cash |
| Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) | when income doesn't cover the need | Jobcenter | 563 € (single) + children + rent |
The trick is to combine the right benefits. Below you'll find a detailed guide for each one. Important to know beforehand: Anyone who works is almost always better off with Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag) + Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) than with Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) – and stays employed.
Child Benefit: almost every family gets it
Child Benefit (Kindergeld) is the basic benefit and doesn't depend on income. Since January 1, 2026, it has been 259 € per child per month and is paid out by the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit. If you already receive Child Benefit (Kindergeld), you don't need to do anything because of the increase – the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) adjusts the amount automatically.
Child Benefit (Kindergeld) is also the basis for the Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag): without entitlement to Child Benefit (Kindergeld), there's no Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag). That's why Child Benefit (Kindergeld) is always the first application. It's applied for using form KG 1 (plus the "Anlage Kind" attachment) at the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse).
→ Details, forms and deadlines: Applying for Child Benefit: Where, how and when?
Additional Child Benefit: for parents who work but are just getting by
Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag, KiZ) is the key benefit for working families with low income. In 2026, the maximum amount is 297 € per child per month; the exact amount depends on income, housing costs and the family's needs. You receive it in addition to Child Benefit (Kindergeld).
Requirement: your income is enough for you as parents, but not (or only barely) enough for your children's needs. The Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag) is meant to keep exactly these families off Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld). It's applied for online via the KiZ-Lotse of the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse).
Important: Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag) and Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) cannot be received at the same time. Both are alternatives – if you get Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag), you don't receive Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld).
→ Who is entitled and how the application works: Applying for Additional Child Benefit: Who, where and how?
Housing Benefit: a subsidy for rent
Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) is a subsidy toward housing costs for households with low income – for tenants (rent subsidy) and for owner-occupied property (subsidy toward housing costs). The amount is calculated individually and depends on three things: number of household members, total income, and the amount of rent in your area. Your local Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldstelle) can tell you the exact figures; for many families, this amounts to several hundred euros a month.
Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) is the typical addition to Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag): often the Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag) covers the children's needs and Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) covers the rent. It's applied for in writing at the local Housing Benefit Office (Wohngeldstelle) of the city or district.
→ Application, documents and process: Applying for Housing Benefit: Where and how do I apply?
Education Package: extra money for the children
The Education Package (Bildungspaket, officially "Leistungen für Bildung und Teilhabe", education and participation benefits) isn't a cash payment to you, but covers specific costs for your children – for example personal school supplies (195 € per school year, split into 130 € in August and 65 € in February), lunch at daycare/school, class trips and outings, learning support (tutoring), school transport, and a subsidy for sports, music or club membership.
The key point for combining benefits: anyone who receives Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag) or Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) (or Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld)) is automatically entitled to the Education Package (Bildungspaket). However, if you receive Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag) and Housing Benefit (Wohngeld), you have to apply for it separately yourself – usually at the local authority or the Jobcenter. Don't assume it will come automatically.
→ What benefits exactly are included and how to get them: Applying for the Education Package: Education and participation for children
Citizen's Allowance: when income doesn't cover your needs
If income, Child Benefit (Kindergeld), Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag) and Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) together still aren't enough, Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) is the basic security benefit that tops up what's needed. There's a freeze in 2026: the standard rate stays the same as in 2024 and 2025 – 563 € for a single person, 1,012 € for a couple; for children, between 357 € and 471 € depending on age. In addition, there are the reasonable costs of accommodation and heating.
This is exactly why Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) excludes Housing Benefit (Wohngeld): housing costs are already included in Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld). So you get either Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) or the combination of Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag) and Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) – not both. The Jobcenter is responsible.
→ Applying online and in person: Applying for Citizen's Allowance: where, how and online (2026)
Which benefits can you get at the same time?
This is really the key question – here are the combination rules at a glance:
- Child benefit (Kindergeld) + everything else: You always receive Child benefit (Kindergeld) in addition, no matter which other benefit you get.
- Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) + Housing benefit (Wohngeld): These two combine very well and are the normal case for working families with a small income.
- Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) + Citizen's income (Bürgergeld): This is not possible at the same time – it's one or the other.
- Citizen's income (Bürgergeld) + Housing benefit (Wohngeld): This is not possible – with Citizen's income (Bürgergeld), housing costs are already included.
- Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) or Housing benefit (Wohngeld) → Education package (Bildungspaket): If you receive one of the two (or Citizen's income (Bürgergeld)), you automatically qualify for the Education package (Bildungspaket) – but with Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag)/Housing benefit (Wohngeld) only if you apply for it yourself.
In short: think of it as two paths. Path A (you work and almost manage): Child benefit (Kindergeld) + Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) + Housing benefit (Wohngeld) + Education package (Bildungspaket). Path B (your income isn't enough at all): Child benefit (Kindergeld) + Citizen's income (Bürgergeld) + Education package (Bildungspaket). Which path works better for you depends on your income – it's often worth comparing both.
In what order should I apply so I don't lose out?
The order matters because some benefits build on each other, while others exclude each other:
- Child benefit (Kindergeld) at the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) – always first, because Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) builds on it.
- Check Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) at the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) (KiZ-Lotse). This way you stay employed and are usually better off than with Citizen's income (Bürgergeld).
- Housing benefit (Wohngeld) at the housing benefit office (Wohngeldstelle) – in addition to Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag), to cover your rent.
- Apply for the Education package (Bildungspaket) at your local authority/Jobcenter as soon as Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) or Housing benefit (Wohngeld) is approved.
- Citizen's income (Bürgergeld) at the Jobcenter only if steps 1–4 don't cover your needs.
Tip to avoid losing money: Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) and Housing benefit (Wohngeld) can be paid retroactively from the month you apply – so it's better to submit the applications early, even if some documents are still missing. Child benefit (Kindergeld) is usually only paid retroactively for the last six months.
Which benefits can families from Ukraine apply for?
People who fled from Ukraine and have a residence permit under § 24 AufenthG (temporary protection) generally belong to the same system as other families: if you meet the residency requirements, you're entitled to Child benefit (Kindergeld) and – if your income is small – to Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag), Housing benefit (Wohngeld) and the Education package (Bildungspaket). If you now work but earn little, Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) and Housing benefit (Wohngeld) are often the right path for you.
Important and to be honest: which basic security benefit applies (Citizen's income (Bürgergeld) via the Jobcenter or benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz) via the social welfare office) depends, among other things, on when you entered the country – the legal situation has recently changed here. This is an individual case that is not decided by this website but by your Jobcenter or the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde). Child benefit (Kindergeld), Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) and Housing benefit (Wohngeld) are independent of this and continue to be handled by the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) and the housing benefit office (Wohngeldstelle). You can also get support from a migration counselling service (Migrationsberatung) – the advice is free.
Frequently asked questions
We have two children and can't manage on our income – which benefits are we entitled to?
First, Child benefit (Kindergeld) (259 € per child per month, regardless of income). If you work but your income is tight, you may also get Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) (up to 297 € per child) and Housing benefit (Wohngeld). Anyone who receives Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) or Housing benefit (Wohngeld) is also entitled to the Education package (Bildungspaket).
I work full-time but earn little. Can I still get state support?
Yes. Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) and Housing benefit (Wohngeld) are designed exactly for working families with a small income. Together, they can add up to several hundred euros a month – and are better than Citizen's income (Bürgergeld) because you stay employed.
Do Citizen's income (Bürgergeld) and Housing benefit (Wohngeld) exclude each other?
Yes. With Citizen's income (Bürgergeld), reasonable housing costs are already included, so there's no Housing benefit (Wohngeld) on top of it. So you choose either Citizen's income (Bürgergeld) or the combination of Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) and Housing benefit (Wohngeld).
In what order should I apply so I don't lose out?
First Child benefit (Kindergeld) at the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse), then Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) and/or Housing benefit (Wohngeld), then the Education package (Bildungspaket) at your local authority. If your income still isn't enough, check whether you're entitled to Citizen's income (Bürgergeld) at the Jobcenter.
I came to Germany from Ukraine with my children and now work – which benefits can I apply for?
With a residence permit under § 24 AufenthG, you generally have access to Child benefit (Kindergeld) and – if your income is small – to Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag), Housing benefit (Wohngeld) and the Education package (Bildungspaket). Which basic security benefit applies depends on when you entered the country; your Jobcenter can clarify this.
Does every family get Child benefit (Kindergeld), even with a good income?
Yes. Child benefit (Kindergeld) is paid to practically every family regardless of income, as long as the requirements (residency, child under 18, or up to 25 if in education) are met.
Fill out your family benefits application now
You don't have to work out yourself which benefit belongs to which authority and what fits together. HalloAmt goes through the questions with you in your language and creates the finished PDF applications – from Child benefit (Kindergeld) to Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag), Housing benefit (Wohngeld) and the Education package (Bildungspaket). Fill out your family benefits application with HalloAmt →
This is general, carefully researched information (as of 08.08.2026) and does not replace legal or official advice. Amounts and deadlines may change; the responsible authority decides on individual cases – the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) (Child benefit (Kindergeld), Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag)), your local housing benefit office (Wohngeldstelle) (Housing benefit (Wohngeld)), your local authority or the Jobcenter (Education package (Bildungspaket), Citizen's income (Bürgergeld)). For binding information, please contact the responsible authority, a migration counselling service, or a lawyer. We cannot guarantee completeness or that the information is up to date.
Sources
- Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit): Child benefit rises in 2026 (Child benefit (Kindergeld) & Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag)) (accessed 08.08.2026)
- Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS): Update of standard needs in social assistance and Citizen's income (Bürgergeld) 2026 (accessed 08.08.2026)
- Federal Government (Bundesregierung): Standard needs / Citizen's income (Bürgergeld) 2026 (accessed 08.08.2026)
- § 6b Federal Child Benefit Act (Bundeskindergeldgesetz) – Education and participation (accessed 08.08.2026)
- Housing Benefit Act (Wohngeldgesetz, WoGG) (accessed 08.08.2026)