In Germany, people who are able to work but are unemployed and needy are entitled to citizen’s benefit. This social benefit replaced the previous Hartz IV on January 1, 2023. Citizens’ money is intended to ensure the minimum subsistence level for the people affected. Citizens’ money is therefore also available to people whose income is not sufficient to cover their living costs.
But how much money is necessary to live depends on many factors. That’s why the citizen’s allowance varies from case to case. A single person therefore receives less than a couple with a child. This in turn receives less than a family of four. We explain here how high the citizen’s allowance is for a family with three children.
Standard requirement: How much citizen’s benefit for a family with three children?
Within the meaning of the Citizens’ Benefit Act, a family is a so-called community of needs. The citizen’s benefit for an individual person or a community of needs basically consists of a lump sum amount, the standard requirement. But it is not the same for every family of five: the age of the children plays a role. How high the respective standard rate is depending on the living conditions of those entitled to citizen’s benefit and the age of the children can be seen in this table from the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS):
Those entitled to citizens’ benefit
Regulatory requirements
Single people, single parents and adults with underage partners 502 euros Adult partners 451 euros Children from 14 to 17 years old and minors with adult partners 420 euros Adults from 18 to 24 years old without their own household and 15 to 24 year olds who move without assurances from the job center 402 euros children from 6 to 13 years 348 euros children from 0 to 5 years 318 euros
This shows what the standard needs of a family with three children are. The two parents, i.e. adult partners, together receive a standard requirement of 902 euros. Then there is the corresponding rule set for the children. Depending on age, this is between 318 and 420 euros. Depending on how old the three children are, there are different standard needs, which are added up to the parents’ standard needs. Here are different scenarios as examples:
- All children are a maximum of 5 years old: 954 euros
- All children are between six and 13 years old: 1,044 euros
- One child is under 5 years old, the other two are between six and 13 years old: 1,014 euros
- One child is under 5 years, one is between six and 13 years and an adult child under 24: 1,068 euros
- All children are between 14 and 17 years old: 1,260 euros
Depending on the combination, the standard requirement for the three children can be between 954 and 1260 euros. Including parents, the citizen’s allowance can cover a standard requirement of 1,856 euros to 2,162 euros. But that’s just the standard requirement: The job center also covers the costs of accommodation, i.e. rent, additional costs and heating, provided they are appropriate. According to the Federal Ministry of Labor, an apartment with five rooms or 100 to 105 square meters is considered appropriate for five people.
By the way: The rates for the standard requirement for citizens’ benefit will increase on January 1, 2024.
Citizens’ allowance: additional needs for a family with three children
In addition to the standard requirement, there are so-called additional requirements that are added and increase the overall requirement. A family with three children may face additional needs if a fourth child is on the way. The BMAS explains that pregnant women from the 13th week of pregnancy up to the month of delivery are entitled to an additional requirement of 17 percent of the standard requirement.
But other family members may also have additional needs under certain circumstances. According to the BMAS, anyone who is dependent on a more expensive diet for medical reasons also has an additional requirement. But one-off benefits such as further training allowance of 150 euros per month can also increase the citizen’s allowance.
If the family consists of a single parent with three children, the calculation is different. A single adult receives 502 euros as standard citizen benefit and then an additional amount depending on the age of the children.
Citizenship benefit for a family with three children: What income is taken into account?
But when calculating the citizen’s allowance, income must also be deducted. This income definitely includes child benefit. For three children that is currently a total of 750 euros. If the family has no other income, there are no further citizen benefit deductions. However, if there is additional income, this will be taken into account.
By the way: As of July 1, 2023, the allowances have increased: According to the BMAS, the first 100 euros are generally not counted as income towards the citizen’s allowance. But then:
- Gross income between 100 and 520 euros: 20 percent is not counted towards the citizen’s allowance.
- Gross income between 520 and 1,000 euros: 30 percent is not counted towards the citizen’s allowance.
- Gross income between 1,000 and 1,200 euros (for those with a minor child up to 1,500 euros): 10 percent is not counted towards the citizen’s allowance.
To find out how much your own citizen’s money could be, you can use the citizen’s money calculator. How much citizen’s benefit a family of five actually receives is usually communicated by the responsible job center.
2023-12-20 00:03:38
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