Find out exactly how much child benefit should be paid into your account and from which country. Calculate entitlements for EU/EEA nations (e.g., Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Romania), treaty-agreement countries (e.g., Turkey, Morocco, Western Balkans), and states like Ukraine, Canada, or Japan.
The rules for international child benefit payments are based on precise regulations regarding the coordination of social security systems. The key question is not just “How much Kindergeld am I entitled to?” but, more importantly, “Which country has the primary obligation to pay?”. Our calculator analyzes your professional and family situation to identify the correct authority responsible for your transfer.
Priority Rules – Which Country Pays the Benefit First?
In cross-border situations, the “priority” (which state pays first) is determined by the parents’ professional activity and the children’s place of residence. Here is how priority rules work in practice:
Scenario A: Father works in Switzerland, Mother & children in Germany (Not working)
In this case, Switzerland has primary priority as it is the country of employment for the only professionally active parent. The Swiss compensation fund (Familienausgleichskasse) pays the full benefit (Familienzulagen). In this configuration, Germany usually pays nothing because the Swiss benefit exhausts all claims.
Scenario B: Mother works in Germany, Father is self-employed in Poland (Children in Poland)
Here, Poland has primary priority because the children reside in a country where one parent is professionally active (self-employment). Poland pays the base benefit (e.g., 800 Plus). Germany then acts as the secondary country and pays the so-called Differential Supplement (the difference).
Scenario C: Mother on maternity leave in Romania, Father works in the Netherlands
Since maternity benefit in Romania is derived from previous employment, it is treated as professional activity under EU law. In this situation, Romania has priority (residence of children + mother’s work/benefit). The Netherlands (SVB) acts as the secondary country and pays the difference if its rates are higher.
Scenario D: Working in Germany, Children in Turkey (The Key Tax Status)
This is a unique global scenario. Even if your children live in Turkey, you can receive the full German Kindergeld rate if you are subject to unlimited tax liability (unbeschränkte Steuerpflicht) in Germany.
Important: You do not necessarily have to live in Germany to obtain this status. If at least 90% of your income comes from Germany, you can apply to be treated as an unlimited taxpayer, which opens the door to full benefits instead of the low treaty rates.
Scenario E: Ukrainian Workers in the EU
For Ukrainian citizens working in the EU, the right to benefits depends on residency status and the children’s location. If the family resides in Poland and the parent works in Germany, standard EU coordination rules apply. The calculator helps determine if benefits from both countries are applicable.
What is a Differential Supplement and How is it Calculated?
A Differential Supplement (Differenzkindergeld) is an amount that tops up the benefit to the level of the higher allowance offered by the second country. If the country with secondary priority offers a higher rate than the primary country, you have the right to receive the difference.
How to calculate it?
- We determine the rate in the primary country (e.g., Country A pays the equivalent of €140).
- We check the full rate in the secondary country (e.g., Country B offers €290).
- We subtract the lower amount from the higher amount: €290 – €140 = €150.
- The result is your monthly Differential Supplement.
Our calculator automatically performs these calculations for the EU/EEA, treaty countries (e.g., Turkey, Morocco, Kosovo), global nations (Canada, Japan), and accounts for specific national exceptions.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Foreign Benefits
How much am I entitled to for 3 or 5 children?
Enter your children’s birth dates into the calculator. The system will check age limits and sum up the amounts due from the foreign authority (e.g., Familienkasse, Finanzamt, or SVB). In countries like Austria or Belgium, the system automatically adds large-family bonuses.
Does the child’s age affect the amount of the benefit?
Yes. In many countries (e.g., the Netherlands, Austria), the benefit rate increases as the child gets older. In Germany, the rate is currently flat regardless of age, as long as the child has not turned 18 (or 25 if studying).
Who is entitled to Kindergeld for an adult child?
You can receive the benefit for a child up to the age of 25 if they are continuing their education, vocational training, or an internship. The condition is providing a current certificate of enrollment from the school or university.
Is your benefit suspended or incorrectly calculated?
If the calculator indicates a higher amount than what you are receiving from the authority, your case may require a correction. Errors in determining the primary country or exchange rate mistakes happen more often than you might think. Book a consultation, and we will analyze your case.