KG 12a: Foster Child Declaration for Kindergeld (Germany)

What is KG 12a — Erklärung für ein Pflegekind?

German child benefit (Kindergeld) can be paid not only for your own children but also, under conditions, for a foster child (Pflegekind) who lives in your household. To decide, the Familienkasse of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit asks the foster parent to describe the foster relationship on KG 12a. The current edition is KG 12a - 01.26, Stand April 2026. It usually goes in with the Kindergeld application (KG 1) and the Anlage Kind for the child.

The form asks since when the child has lived with you, whether the child is to stay temporarily, for a longer time or indefinitely (possibly with a view to adoption), and whether you look after the child part-time or all day. It also asks about the youth office (Jugendamt) and its foster-care permit, and about the birth parents. Finally it asks who received Kindergeld for the child before, and how the parents keep in touch with the child.

FileIt explains each question in English with the German term alongside, ticks the right boxes and prints your answers onto the official German PDF. It keeps names such as O'Brien or Wiśniewska intact. The finished PDF is saved in your vault. FileIt does not send anything to the Familienkasse: you print, sign by hand and send it yourself.

Issued by: Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Familienkasse
Who fills it: The foster parent claiming Kindergeld for the foster child
Usually sent with: The Kindergeld application (KG 1) and the Anlage Kind
Signatures: Handwritten, by the person entitled to Kindergeld or their legal representative
Edition: KG 12a - 01.26 - Stand April 2026, 1 page

Who needs to fill out KG 12a — Erklärung für ein Pflegekind?

Foster parents who have taken a child into their household and claim Kindergeld for them.
Relatives, such as grandparents, aunts or uncles, caring for a child as foster parents.
Prospective adoptive parents caring for a child indefinitely with a view to adoption.
Anyone the Familienkasse has asked to complete the foster child declaration.

When to use KG 12a — Erklärung für ein Pflegekind

When you apply for Kindergeld for a foster child, together with KG 1 and the Anlage Kind.
When the Familienkasse asks for details of a foster relationship for an existing claim.
Report later changes, such as the child moving out, on KG 45.

What you need before you start

Your Kindergeld number, if you have one, and a daytime phone number.
The child's name and date of birth, and the date the child came to live with you.
The youth office responsible and the date of the foster-care permit, or why there isn't one.
The birth parents' names and address, if known.
Who received Kindergeld for the child before, the Familienkasse and the Kindergeld number.
How often and how long the birth parents visit or contact the child.

What’s on KG 12a — Erklärung für ein Pflegekind

The 2026 edition has 1 page. FileIt asks for it in 4 parts:

Kindergeld file and the child (Kopfzeile, Angaben zum Kind)Person claiming kindergeld (kindergeldberechtigte person)
1-4 Household, duration, care and foster permitPerson claiming kindergeld (kindergeldberechtigte person)
5-7 Birth parents, earlier Kindergeld and contactPerson claiming kindergeld (kindergeldberechtigte person)
Declaration and signature (Unterschrift)Person claiming kindergeld (kindergeldberechtigte person)

How to fill out KG 12a — Erklärung für ein Pflegekind, step by step

1 Kopfzeile and Angaben zum Kind

Your name, your Kindergeld number and phone, then the child's surname, first name and date of birth.

2 1-3 Haushalt, Dauer, Versorgung

Since when the child has lived in your household. Whether the child stays temporarily (until when), for a longer time (expected until when) or indefinitely, with a box for 'with a view to adoption'. Whether you look after the child part of the day or all day, every day.

3 4 Pflegeerlaubnis

The youth office (Jugendamt), and whether it granted a foster-care permit, with the date, or why not.

4 5 Leibliche Eltern

The birth parents' names and address, or tick that they are not known to you or have died.

5 6 Bisheriger Kindergeldbezug

Who received Kindergeld for the child before (father, mother or another person), from which Familienkasse, and under which Kindergeld number.

6 7-8 Kontakt und Sonstiges

Whether the parents visit (exactly when and how long) or have other contact (kind, frequency, extent). Then add anything else the Familienkasse should know, and date and sign.

Common mistakes to avoid

Describing visits vaguely. The form asks exactly when and how long, for example 'every Sunday from 14:00 to 17:00'.
Ticking both 'do not visit' and 'visit as follows'.
Leaving out who received Kindergeld for the child before, and their Familienkasse and Kindergeld number, when you know them.
Sending KG 12a without the Kindergeld application and Anlage Kind when it belongs to a new claim.
Sending it unsigned. The Familienkasse needs a handwritten signature.

After you fill it out

Print the PDF, sign it by hand and send it to your Familienkasse, with KG 1 and the Anlage Kind if you are applying. FileIt does not send it for you.

Keep a copy of the foster-care permit and the filled PDF in your FileIt vault.

Report any later change, such as the child leaving your household, straight away on KG 45.

Fill out KG 12a — Erklärung für ein Pflegekind online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 35 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Familienkasse form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start KG 12a — Erklärung für ein Pflegekind now — it’s free

KG 12a — Erklärung für ein Pflegekind: frequently asked questions

What is KG 12a?

It is the Familienkasse's Erklärung für ein Pflegekind: the declaration a foster parent gives about the foster relationship when claiming Kindergeld for a foster child.

Do I still need to fill in KG 1?

For a new claim, yes. KG 12a describes the foster relationship and usually goes in with the Kindergeld application (KG 1) and the Anlage Kind for the child.

What if I don't know the birth parents?

Tick 'sind mir nicht bekannt' (not known to me) under question 5, or 'sind verstorben' if they have died.

Is the form in English?

No, KG 12a is in German. FileIt explains each question in English and prints your answers on the German form.

Can I sign KG 12a electronically?

FileIt doesn't offer e-signing for this form. Print it, sign by hand and send it to your Familienkasse.

Can I fill in KG 12a online with FileIt?

Yes. FileIt fills the official PDF and saves it in your vault. You then print, sign and send it yourself. FileIt never submits forms.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Familienkasse: https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/datei/erklaerung-pflegekind-kg12a_ba056445.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/familie-und-kinder/downloads-familie-und-kinder/formulare-kindergeld
Edition shown on this page: KG 12a - 01.26 - Stand April 2026 (checked 2026-10-01).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Familienkasse or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-01.