The COVID-19 crisis is further exacerbating the financial hardship faced by many single parents and parents with lower incomes. Those who were already struggling to provide adequately for their families each month before the economic downturn are now often hit even harder. Added to this are families who, only since the onset of the pandemic, have been unable to meet their financial obligations due to reduced work hours and loss of income—they, too, need quick access to financial support for their children. That is why the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs has passed the Strong Families Act. One of the measures introduced by the law is the simplified process for receiving the child supplement, a benefit that parents or single parents with lower incomes can also receive on a regular basis in addition to child benefit.
Unlike the standard child supplement, the “Emergency Child Supplement” (Notfall-KiZ) is subject to several special provisions so that government assistance reaches more parents and single parents and gets to them more quickly. The supplement can provide up to 185 euros more per month per child. Additional benefits may also be available when receiving the Notfall-KiZ.
The Emergency Child Allowance – A Brief Explanation
Those who do not earn enough to support themselves and their entire family are intended to receive additional support through the emergency child supplement. With the Notfall-KiZ, affected families can receive up to 185 euros more per child each month in addition to child benefit. The exact amount of this payment is calculated individually by the family benefits office for each application. The monthly amount families are entitled to is calculated based on factors such as income, housing costs, and the children’s ages. Only those who submit their application between April 1 and September 30 are eligible for the Emergency Child Allowance. If the application is approved within this period, the payment period is automatically extended by half a year without the need to submit a new application.
Who Is Eligible for the Emergency Child Allowance
You can easily check online using the so-called “KiZ-Lotsen” to see if you are likely to be eligible for the supplement. Here, the income of the parents or single parents is still reviewed, as it must not exceed a certain amount. Unlike with the regular child supplement, the income from the past six months is not reviewed here; instead, only the income from the month prior to submitting the application is considered. Unlike with the regular child supplement, private assets are currently only factored into the assessment if they are “substantial”—that is, if the total liquid assets of a family member do not exceed 60,000 euros and those of each additional household member do not exceed 30,000 euros.
You must meet these criteria to receive the emergency child supplement
- You must be eligible for child benefit. Only those who receive child benefit are eligible to apply for the emergency KiZ.
- Monthly income must meet the minimum income threshold. This threshold is 900 euros gross for two-parent families and 600 euros gross for single parents.
- The children must live in the parents’ household.
- In addition, the children must be under 25 years of age.
- The children may not be in a domestic partnership or married.
- The applicant must not be receiving basic income support for job seekers—this includes both Unemployment Benefit II and Social Assistance.
Additional benefits that families receive with the supplement
Those who receive the emergency child supplement are also entitled to additional benefits designed to support education and participation. This includes 150 euros per school year for school supplies, as well as a subsidy for membership in sports and music clubs. In addition, families receiving the supplement are exempt from daycare fees.
Here’s how to apply
After using the KiZ Guide to verify that you generally meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for the Emergency Child Allowance directly online here through the Family Benefits Office. Before you begin filling out the form, you’ll find a checklist on the page that tells you exactly which supporting documents you need for the application. The Family Benefits Office will then verify whether all requirements have indeed been met. According to the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, the Family Benefits Office has hired additional staff on short notice to process the large number of additional applications as quickly as possible. Applications that are likely to be approved are prioritized so that payments can be made as quickly as possible.
Overview of the most important websites for the emergency child allowance
Online application form from the Family Benefits Office with a checklist of required evidence and documents
The short application form for the child allowance as a PDF
All information from the Employment Agency
Check your eligibility for the child supplement online using the KiZ-Lotsen tool
Information from the DGB on the child supplement
