When will Kindergeld be stopped?

Kindergeld is suspended by the Familienkasse for several reasons. Most often, due to failure to submit documents on time and failure to respond to the letter. This must be written down immediately – if the Applicant does not have the documents at the time, this does not excuse the lack of response. In such a situation, you must respond on time and provide the reason, describe the problem.

A common reason for suspending Kindergeld is also failure to inform the office about important life changes of the parent or child, such as: change of job, change of registered address, starting school, the child taking up employment, etc. Familienkasse will suspend Kindergeld if the other parent (taking care of the child) starts trying to receive the benefit.

When Kindergeld is Suspended?

In general, if the authorities believe something needs clarification, they may suspend the benefit. In case of any uncertainties, the Familienkasse halts the payment of Kindergeld. This does not necessarily mean that the applicant made a mistake.

For example, the benefit may be suspended because the child is about to turn 18, and it needs to be confirmed that they are still in education. Suspension of the benefit should prompt us to act. In such cases, it is important to contact the Familienkasse via traditional mail.

The Familienkasse often does not respond to letters sent electronically, so it is advisable to resolve matters by sending a registered letter. This allows you to have proof of mailing (a confirmation of dispatch) and to keep a copy of what was sent. With the registered mail tracking number, you can immediately check on the Deutsche Post website when the office received your letter.

Missing the Deadline

When receiving a request from a government office for certain documents, not having immediate access to them can feel overwhelming.

This might include a certificate from a former employer or documents that don’t exactly match your situation, such as asking for an employer’s certificate when someone is self-employed and proves it through business registration and invoices.

Failing to respond in time can turn a small issue into a bigger problem, leading to the suspension of benefits. The Familienkasse may accuse the applicant of non-cooperation and might stop payments or use the lack of response as a reason not to provide benefits retroactively.

Missing a deadline is one of the easiest ways to lose a case with the authorities or in court. Reinstating a deadline is challenging and requires objective reasons, such as a medical emergency. Every missed step makes resolving the issue more difficult.

Significant Life Changes

The authorities may suspend the benefit if a significant life change is not reported. Significant life changes must be reported within a month. But what does “significant life change” mean?

Kindergeld After Divorce

When parents separate and are in conflict, Kindergeld may be suspended to clarify which parent the children are living with. This does not happen automatically; the parent with whom the children reside must initiate the process. In such cases, the authorities should suspend the benefit. However, this does not mean that the money will immediately be paid to the parent living with the children. It usually takes several months or even more effort to have Kindergeld reassigned to the parent caring for the children and to receive any back payments.

Who Is Entitled to Kindergeld

When parents live together, either the parent living in Germany or the parent living abroad (e.g., in Poland) can be the applicant for Kindergeld. However, when a separation occurs, the parent who is raising the children under their roof should receive the full Kindergeld amount.

Separation means that the parents no longer live together and no longer maintain a joint household. A common mistake is thinking that separation starts on the day a divorce decree is issued. Many people live in informal relationships, and for them, separation simply means ceasing to live together. Separation alone is enough to start the process of applying for Kindergeld.

Waiting for the divorce decree favors the parent working abroad. Lawyers handling divorce cases may give poor advice regarding Kindergeld, such as advising clients to wait for the divorce (bad advice), to agree to split the Kindergeld, or to give it up entirely in exchange for higher child support (bad advice).

Clients often struggle to understand that someone who is an expert in divorce proceedings may not have the same expertise when it comes to Kindergeld. There is a lot of misleading information online that suggests Kindergeld is only for the parent working in Germany until the divorce.