Bürgergeld and Kindergeld 2026: What Families Need to Know
Last updated: May 2026. Families on Bürgergeld (Germany's basic income support, the successor to ALG II) often face a dilemma. The Kindergeld (child benefit) is counted in full as the child's income, while at the same time SGB II (the Social Code, Book II) guarantees age-graded standard rates plus housing costs and additional-need supplements. If you work, earnings allowances (Erwerbsfreibeträge) can shield part of your income — and depending on your situation, the child supplement (Kinderzuschlag, KiZ) combined with housing benefit may be the better financial alternative to Bürgergeld. This guide sets out the 2026 standard rates, how income is counted, and concrete calculations for three typical family setups.
At a glance
- Bürgergeld standard rate for adults 2026: €563/month
- Children's rates 2026: €357 (ages 0–5), €390 (6–13), €471 (14–17)
- Kindergeld of €259/child/month is counted in full as income
- Single-parent additional need: 36 % of the standard rate (at least one child under 7)
- Child supplement (KiZ) 2026: max. €297/child/month (§ 6a BKGG, the Federal Child Benefit Act)
- Education-and-participation package (BuT): €195/year for school supplies + club/lunch subsidies
- Bürgergeld and KiZ are mutually exclusive
Bürgergeld standard rates 2026 (§ 20 SGB II)
Bürgergeld has been the basic security for people capable of work since January 2023 (the successor to ALG II). The standard rates are adjusted annually based on consumer prices and wage developments. For 2026 the following apply:
| Benefit community member | Standard rate 2026 |
|---|---|
| Single person, single parent | €563/month |
| Adult partner (each) | €506/month |
| Young adults 18–24 (parental household) | €451/month |
| Teenagers 14–17 | €471/month |
| Children 6–13 | €390/month |
| Children 0–5 | €357/month |
On top of this come the reasonable costs of accommodation (rent, utilities, heating) plus, where applicable, additional-need supplements: single parents with one child under 7 or two children under 16 receive 36 % of the standard rate as an additional need (= €203/month).
How Kindergeld is counted
Under § 11 SGB II, the Kindergeld (€259/child/month, as of 2026) is the child's income and is offset euro-for-euro against the standard rate. In practice the Kindergeld largely covers the child's standard rate:
Example: a 4-year-old child has a standard rate of €357. Kindergeld of €259 is counted. Remaining Bürgergeld entitlement of the child: €98/month.
The Kindergeld is formally credited to the account of the eligible person (usually the mother). The Jobcenter attributes it to the child regardless.
Earnings allowances (§ 11b SGB II)
If you work while receiving Bürgergeld, you may keep part of your income — this is meant to create an incentive to take up work:
| Gross income | Exempt from offsetting |
|---|---|
| €0 – 100 | 100 % (basic allowance) |
| €100 – 520 | 20 % |
| €520 – 1,000 | 30 % |
| €1,000 – 1,200 (families with children: €1,500) | 10 % |
| Over €1,200 / €1,500 | 0 % |
Families with children benefit from the higher limit: up to €1,500 gross the allowances provide relief. Example at €800 gross: basic allowance €100 + €84 (20 % of €420) + €84 (30 % of €280) = €268 exempt.
Additional needs for families (§ 21 SGB II)
Besides the single-parent additional need, Bürgergeld recognises further supplements:
- Expectant mothers from the 13th week of pregnancy: +17 % of the standard rate (= €96/month)
- Disability with a severe-disability ID: +35 % (= €197)
- Costly diets (e.g. coeliac disease): individual, often €30–80
- Decentralised hot-water provision: 2.3 % of the standard rate (= €13/adult)
Case study 1: the Hoffmann family – couple, 2 children, €1,500 net
Both parents work part-time, with a combined net income of €1,500. Children aged 4 and 8.
Bürgergeld option:
- Need: 2 × €506 + €357 + €390 + €750 rent = €2,509
- Countable income: €1,500 − €268 allowance = €1,232
- Less Kindergeld €518 = already-covered share
- Remaining Bürgergeld entitlement: approx. €759/month
Child supplement + housing benefit option:
- Kindergeld: €518
- KiZ: 2 × €297 = €594, less the taper
- Minimum income of €900 met → KiZ calculation possible
- Actual KiZ after taper (1,500 − 900) × 0.45 = €270 → 594 − 270 = €324
- Housing benefit: depending on rent tier, approx. €200–350
- Total: 518 + 324 + 300 = approx. €1,142 + earned income €1,500 = €2,642 available
In this setup, KiZ + housing benefit is clearly more attractive, because the earned income is largely preserved.
Case study 2: single parent Ms Demir – 1 child, no income
Ms Demir, single parent, child aged 3, no earned income.
- Mother's standard rate: €563
- Single-parent additional need (child under 7): 36 % × €563 = €203
- Child's standard rate: €357
- Rent (city flat): €720
- Total need: €1,843/month
- Kindergeld counted: €259
- Bürgergeld entitlement: €1,584/month
No KiZ is possible, since the minimum earned income of €600 (single parents) is not reached. In addition, Ms Demir can apply for advance maintenance if the father pays no or too little maintenance: €227/month for a child under 6. This advance is in turn counted as the child's income against Bürgergeld, but can reshape the benefit community.
Case study 3: the Wagner family – 1 child, €800 side job
Ms Wagner, single parent, child aged 9, mini-job at €800/month.
- Mother's standard rate: €563
- Single-parent additional need (child aged 9, 1 child): 12 % × €563 = €68
- Child's standard rate: €390
- Rent: €650
- Total need: €1,671
- Countable income: 800 − 268 = €532
- Kindergeld counted: €259
- Bürgergeld entitlement: 1,671 − 532 − 259 = €880/month
The alternative KiZ check fails here: at €800 she is above the minimum income for single parents (€600), but below the maximum income at which the KiZ would be fully tapered away. The calculation is complex; many families file a so-called dual application and let the Familienkasse and the Jobcenter work out the more favourable option.
The education-and-participation package (BuT)
Children in Bürgergeld, KiZ, or housing-benefit families also receive support for education and social participation (§ 28 SGB II):
- School supplies: €130 (first school half-year) + €65 (second half-year) = €195/year
- School trips and excursions: full cost coverage
- School transport: where the journey to school exceeds 5 km (usually public transport)
- Learning support: where the class goal is at risk, approved individually
- Lunch at school/nursery: full subsidy except a €1/meal personal contribution
- Club membership / music school / culture: up to €15/month
The application goes to the Jobcenter (for Bürgergeld) or to the Familienkasse (for KiZ recipients); some municipalities have set up their own "BuT cards" or online portals.
Child supplement vs. Bürgergeld: which when?
| Criterion | Bürgergeld | Child supplement |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income | no | €900 (couples) / €600 (single parents) |
| Combinable with housing benefit | no | yes |
| Asset limit | strict | none (KiZ) |
| Effect on health insurance | statutory compulsory cover (Jobcenter pays the contribution) | existing cover continues |
| Bureaucracy | high (regular cooperation duties) | medium |
| Stigma | felt to be high | low |
Rule of thumb: if you have a reasonably stable earned income above the minimum threshold and live in a mid-range rent region, you usually fare better with KiZ + housing benefit. With no income or very low earnings, there is no way around Bürgergeld.
What happens if ...
- ... I suddenly earn more? Earned income must be reported immediately. Bürgergeld is recalculated; overpayments must be repaid.
- ... my child turns 18? With adulthood, different rules apply: young adults 18–24 in the parental household receive €451. Once they move out into their own flat, the full adult rate of €563 applies.
- ... I receive an inheritance or a large gift? Check the asset thresholds: €40,000 in the first year of Bürgergeld, then €15,000 (+ €15,000 per additional member of the benefit community). Above that, Bürgergeld is used up first.
- ... I refuse to work? Sanctions under §§ 31a ff. SGB II — a cut of up to 30 % for three months. Children are exempt from sanctions.
- ... my partner and I separate? The benefit community is dissolved; new applications are needed. The single-parent additional need is considered from the following month.
Common mistakes
- Not checking the child supplement, even though earned income exists — the Familienkasse advises on this free of charge.
- Overlooking advance maintenance: single parents with missing maintenance receive advances until age 18 (€227–394/month).
- Applying for Kindergeld late: retroactivity is only 6 months (§ 70 EStG).
- Forgetting housing benefit alongside KiZ: KiZ recipients can (and should) also apply for housing benefit.
- Not claiming BuT benefits: the €195/year school-supplies amount is often forgotten.
Practical tip: use the dual application and advice services
Families on the borderline between Bürgergeld and KiZ can request a so-called KiZ navigator (KiZ-Lotse) at the Familienkasse. These advisers check free of charge which option fits best in your individual case. If you are unsure, apply for Bürgergeld at the Jobcenter and KiZ at the Familienkasse in parallel — the two authorities coordinate and decide together which benefit applies.
Also worthwhile: debt counselling through the Caritas, Diakonie, or German Red Cross (DRK) networks. Many Bürgergeld recipients have outstanding loans or payment arrears; an orderly debt settlement creates a long-term path out of basic security.
Next steps
- Family benefits check: works out individually whether Bürgergeld or KiZ + housing benefit is cheaper
- Kindergeld calculator: calculates your monthly child benefit
- Family allowances overview 2026: all federal and state benefits
- Allowances for children 2026: use additional tax benefits
- Maternity pay 2026: benefits around the birth
Sources
- §§ 11, 11b, 20, 21, 28 SGB II – Bürgergeld (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- § 6a BKGG – child supplement (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- BMFSFJ – Bürgergeld for families (bmfsfj.de)
- familienportal.de – benefits for families
- Federal Employment Agency – Bürgergeld information sheets (arbeitsagentur.de)
Last updated: May 2026. Non-binding estimate — binding information is provided exclusively by your responsible Jobcenter.