Familienleistungen-Rechner.deRechner · EN
Familienleistungen-Rechner.deRechner · EN
Family Check→Child Benefit→Parental Benefit→Child Supplement→Maintenance Advance→Guides→
Check EligibilityDE / EN
Calculator · D.8

Education & Participation Package 2026

Calculate BuT benefits for school-age children and Kita children — school supplies, participation allowance, meals and more under § 28 SGB II.

01

€195

School supplies per child/year

02

€15

Participation per child/month

03

€0

Lunch co-payment

Calculate BuT benefits

Input
1
0

Which benefit does your household receive?

Bürgergeld (§ 19 SGB II)
Kinderzuschlag — child supplement (§ 6a BKGG)
Wohngeld — housing benefit (WoGG)
Sozialhilfe / income support (§ 27 SGB XII)

Additional situation

Chargeable school transport required
Communal lunch available at school or Kita
FAQ — 05

Frequently Asked Questions: Education & Participation Package (BuT) 2026

Q.01Who is entitled to BuT benefits?
Children and young people are entitled to the Education and Participation Package (BuT, Bildungs- und Teilhabepaket) if their parents receive Bürgergeld (§ 19 SGB II), Kinderzuschlag (§ 6a BKGG), Wohngeld or Sozialhilfe / Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt (§ 27 SGB XII). As a rule, the child must be under 25 years of age and not living in full inpatient care.
Q.02How much is the school supplies allowance in 2026?
The personal school supplies allowance (persönlicher Schulbedarf) amounts to €195 per school year in 2026 (§ 28 para. 3 SGB II). It is paid in two instalments: €130 on 1 August and €65 on 1 February of the following year. Pupils at general or vocational schools are eligible.
Q.03What does the participation allowance cover?
The social and cultural participation allowance (§ 28 para. 7 SGB II) is €15 per month (= €180/year) per child. It can be used for club membership fees (sports clubs, music schools), VHS courses or similar activities. Children up to the age of 18 are eligible.
Q.04Do we have to pay anything for school lunch?
No. Since 1 July 2019, the co-payment for communal lunch at school or Kita has been reduced to €0 (§ 28 para. 6 SGB II). The actual cost is covered in full, provided the institution offers lunch and the child participates.
Q.05Where do I apply for BuT?
Bürgergeld recipients apply at their local Jobcenter. Kinderzuschlag recipients apply at the Jobcenter or Familienkasse. Wohngeld recipients apply at the municipal Sozialamt. Sozialhilfe recipients apply at the Sozialamt. Applications can be made retroactively for ongoing benefit periods. Many municipalities also allow schools and Kitas to invoice benefits directly on behalf of children.

Was this page helpful?

Keep calculating

Related calculators for your situation

Kinderzuschlagup to 297 EUR/childWohngeld Calculatoravg €370/monthKita Fees 202616 federal states

— Editorial

Redaktion Faktencheck

Source Verification & Editorial Quality Assurance

Before every release, our fact-check team reconciles the core figures — Kindergeld rate, Elterngeld thresholds, Kinderzuschlag tiers, Düsseldorfer Tabelle — with the latest official publications. Every cent shown in a calculator is traceable to a specific statute or agency notice.

Fact-checked by:Redaktion Faktencheck — Source Verification & Editorial Quality Assurance

Last reviewed:May 2026

Researched and editorially reviewed. Not legal advice within the meaning of § 2 RDG.

About our editorial team →