Overview
- The Bundesrat gave final approval on Friday, September 25, 2026, clearing the law to take effect on January 1, 2027 and begin operational rollout next year.
- Automatic payments will start once a child has a tax identification number and the Familienkasse has the family’s bank details, removing the need for most parents to file a separate Kindergeld application.
- The reform will be phased in two stages in 2027, first covering newborns in households already receiving Kindergeld and later extending to firstborns with a reported November start for that group.
- To prevent incorrect cross‑border payments, first children will only be paid automatically if at least one parent lives with the child in Germany and at least one parent works in Germany; unclear or disputed cases will still require an application and parents will receive a welcome letter.
- A related, reported change would raise the monthly Kindergeld from €259 to €272 from 2028, and successful implementation will depend on reliable tax ID and banking data and the Familienkassen’s ability to resolve complex entitlement questions.