How high is the child benefit in 2026? (Image: Pixabay, Pexels)
Many families are currently looking forward to the coming years: How does the child benefit develop? How much will the monthly relief increase – and is that enough to cushion the increased living costs at least a bit?
We look at what was specifically decided for 2025 and 2026 and what this means for parents.
Child benefit 2025: The first noticeable increase decided
For the January 1, 2025, child benefit increases Uniform for all children from 250 euros to 255 euros a month. This means an increase of five euros per child – or in other words: 60 euros more child benefit per year and child.
The adjustment is automatically implemented. Parents do not have to make a new application. The money is transferred through the family health insurance companies as usual.
A small overview:
This increase in the household budget is noticeable, especially for families with several children, even if it looks rather moderate at first glance.
Child benefit 2026: Further raising is already being planned
It continues for 2026: the child benefit should From January 1, 2026 to be raised again – then 259 euros per child and month. This adds again to a small relief, which is primarily intended to compensate for inflation.
Overview of the new amounts from 2026:
This increase has also been politically decided and is to be implemented automatically without an additional application.
Overview: Payment dates for the child benefit in 2026
As in previous years, the exact payment date is based on the final digit of the child benefit number.
Although the official dates of the family fund have not yet been published, a very reliable forecast can already be made based on the previous system.
The family fund does not transfer child benefit to all entitled people at the same time. Instead, the payment is distributed over the month – depending on the Endp. the Child benefit number:
Only banking days are used. The transfers do not fall on weekends or public holidays. Smaller shifts are possible, around Easter (early April) or Christmas (late December).
Important: February remains 28 days in 2026 (no leap year) – this does not have an impact on the payment dates.
Estimated payment dates for child benefit in 2026
Based on the proven structure of the past few years, the following forecast is made for 2026:
Note: This overview is based on experience. As soon as the official dates are published by the family fund (expected in November/December 2025), you should check the current information again.
Further changes: higher child allowances and surcharges
In addition to child benefit, the tax allowances for children will also be increased in 2025 and 2026:
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2025: Child allowance increases to 6,672 euros, together with the childcare allowance to 9,600 euros annually.
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2026: Further increase to 6,828 euros, a total of 9,756 euros including support.
The tax office automatically checks every year whether child benefit or allowance is cheaper for parents. Anyone who has a higher income benefits more often from the allowance.
Also the Children’s supplement For low -income families, it is adapted:
This is where the federal government consciously comes in several places in order to relieve families with small and medium -sized incomes more.
Background: Why is child benefit increased at all?
The adjustments are part of a long -term strategy.
Since 2022, the child benefit has been gradually increased – a total of 40 euros per month to 2026. The aim is to cushion the consequences of inflation and to compensate for the so -called cold progression (i.e. hidden tax increases due to increasing income).
Especially in times of high energy prices and severely increased living expenses, politics wants to prevent families in their purchasing power under too much pressure.
Conclusion: Small steps with a noticeable effect
The child benefit increases – only in 2025 to 255 euros, then in 2026 to 259 euros per child and month.
For a family with two children, this means an annual relief of 216 euros in addition to 2024. Together with the higher allowances and surcharges, there is an overall package that is quite noticeable in total.
Of course: a real “major reform” remains.
But in the context of the current budget, the direction is clear: families should be protected at least a bit against inflation. If you are entitled to child benefit, you will benefit automatically – and can look forward to a small plus in the account from 2025 and 2026.