People working in Germany who have children living in Turkey often ask whether they can receive German Kindergeld and family benefits from Turkey at the same time.
The answer depends on the family’s individual situation, the child’s place of residence, the parents’ employment and the type of benefit received in Turkey.
How much is the child benefit in Turkey?
Since 1 January 2025, Turkey has operated a new birth benefit (Doğum Yardımı) scheme.
The current amounts are:
- First child: 5,000 TRY – one-off payment,
- Second child: 1,500 TRY per month,
- Third and subsequent children: 5,000 TRY per month.
Monthly payments for the second and subsequent children are made until the child reaches the age of 5, provided the relevant conditions are met.
The Turkish benefit is subject to specific eligibility requirements, including rules concerning citizenship and the family’s circumstances.
Can you receive Turkish benefits and German Kindergeld at the same time?
In certain circumstances, yes. Receiving a family benefit from Turkey does not automatically mean that you lose your right to German Kindergeld.
However, it is important to distinguish between being entitled to benefits in both countries and receiving the full amount of both benefits for the same child and period.
The German authorities may take foreign family benefits into account when determining entitlement to Kindergeld.
For this reason, anyone applying for or receiving Kindergeld should inform the Familienkasse about relevant benefits received in Turkey.
When can you receive benefits from both countries?
The situation may arise, for example, when:
- a parent works in Germany,
- the child lives in Turkey,
- the parent is covered by the relevant German social security rules,
- the family also receives a Turkish child or birth benefit.
Germany and Turkey have specific rules concerning social security and family benefits. In certain cases, children living in Turkey can be taken into account when determining entitlement to German Kindergeld.
The exact rules depend on the parent’s employment and insurance status and on the family’s circumstances.
Does a Turkish benefit automatically reduce Kindergeld?
Not necessarily. It is not enough to simply know that the family receives money from Turkey. The German authorities may need to establish exactly what type of benefit is being paid, to whom and for which child and period.
Therefore, the Familienkasse may request documents confirming:
- the type of Turkish benefit,
- the amount paid,
- the period of payment,
- the child for whom the benefit is paid.
It is important not to omit information about foreign family benefits when submitting a Kindergeld application.
Example: child living in Turkey
A parent works in Germany while their child lives in Turkey. The family receives 1,500 TRY per month from Turkey for the second child.
This does not automatically mean that the parent cannot apply for Kindergeld in Germany. The Familienkasse must assess the individual situation and determine whether the Turkish benefit affects the German payment.
Summary
Turkish family benefits and German Kindergeld can, in certain situations, be received at the same time. However, entitlement to both benefits and the amount actually payable must be assessed under the applicable German and German-Turkish rules.
The most important factors are:
- where the child lives,
- where the parent works,
- where the parent is insured,
- what benefit is received in Turkey,
- and for which period it is paid.
If you work in Germany and your child lives in Turkey, receiving a Turkish family benefit does not automatically exclude you from Kindergeld. However, you should inform the Familienkasse about the Turkish benefit so that your entitlement can be assessed correctly.