Kindergeld, Elterngeld, and Unterhaltsvorschuss in Berlin

Kindergeld — federal law, Familienkasse

Kindergeld amounts to "259 euros monthly for each child" (§ 66 Abs. 1 EStG); per the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, this amount applies from January 2026 (an increase of 4 euros over 2025), and existing recipients do not need to file a new application. Under § 62 Abs. 1 EStG, entitlement exists for anyone with a domestic residence or habitual residence (or who is subject to unlimited income tax liability) and who is identified by their identification number under § 139b AO. Kindergeld is paid retroactively only for the six months before the start of the month of application (§ 70 Abs. 1 Satz 2 EStG).

EU/EEA nationals — § 62 Abs. 1a EStG

In the first three months after establishing residence, no entitlement exists, unless domestic income is earned. After that, entitlement exists "unless the requirements of § 2 Absatz 2 or Absatz 3 of the Freizügigkeitsgesetz/EU are not met".

Third-country nationals — § 62 Abs. 2 EStG

Foreign nationals without freedom-of-movement rights receive Kindergeld only if they

1. hold a Niederlassungserlaubnis or an Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt-EU,
2. hold an EU Blue Card, ICT Card, Mobile ICT Card, or a residence permit that entitles or entitled to employment for at least six months, or permits it — excluding a) titles under § 16e (training purposes), § 19c Abs. 1 (au pair, seasonal work), § 19e (European Voluntary Service), § 20a Abs. 5 Satz 1 AufenthG; b) titles under § 16b (study), § 16d (recognition), § 20 (job-seeking), § 20a Abs. 5 Satz 2 AufenthG, unless the person is employed or taking parental leave or receiving ongoing SGB III benefits; c) titles under § 23 Abs. 1 due to war in the home country, § 23a, or § 25 Abs. 3 to 5 AufenthG,
3. hold a title under Nr. 2 Buchst. c and are lawfully employed, taking parental leave, or receiving SGB III benefits,

Elterngeld — federal law (BEEG), implemented by Berlin's Jugendämter

Per the ServicePortal Berlin, Elterngeld replaces part of one's income. Basiselterngeld amounts to 300 to 1,800 euros monthly and is paid for 12 months, limited to the child's first 14 months of life; ElterngeldPlus runs longer at roughly half the monthly amount. Requirements include: no more than 32 hours of weekly employment, living together with the child in Berlin, residence in Berlin. Retroactive payment is made for "at most three months of the child's life". Income threshold: more than 175,000 euros of taxable income in the last completed assessment period before the birth excludes entitlement (§ 1 Abs. 8 BEEG). For foreign nationals without freedom-of-movement rights, § 1 Abs. 7 BEEG applies the same title list as § 62 Abs. 2 EStG; additionally, minors holding a title under Nr. 2 Buchst. c are entitled regardless of employment. The Elterngeldstelle within the Jugendamt of the district of residence (12 districts) is responsible.

Unterhaltsvorschuss — UhVorschG

For children of single parents who receive no maintenance, or only partial maintenance, from the other parent. Per the ServicePortal Berlin, for children under 18 living in Berlin with the applying parent; special requirements apply for children aged 12 and over. § 1 Abs. 1 UhVorschG sets out, as the basic case, children who have "not yet turned twelve". Foreign nationals: a separate title list applies under § 1 Abs. 2a UhVorschG. Retroactive payment is made for at most the month before the month of application (§ 4 UhVorschG). Application at the Jugendamt of the district of residence, free of charge.

Open points

2026 amounts for Unterhaltsvorschuss; the current status of Berlin's Elterngeld online portal; a full cross-check of § 1 Abs. 2a UhVorschG against § 62 Abs. 2 EStG: no confirmed information is available for this.