KiZ 1 — Child Supplement Application (Antrag auf Kinderzuschlag)

What is KiZ 1 — Antrag auf Kinderzuschlag?

The Kinderzuschlag (KiZ), or child supplement, is a monthly payment from the Familienkasse of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency). It is for parents who earn enough to support themselves but whose income doesn't fully cover the needs of the whole family. KiZ 1, the Antrag auf Kinderzuschlag, is the main application form. The current paper edition is printed "KiZ 1 - 02.24 - Stand September 2024".

KiZ 1 itself is short. It covers you, your partner, the bank account, the children you are claiming for, and everyone else who lives in your household. It is never sent alone. The form says you must also complete the "Anlage Antragsteller(in) und Partner(in)" (Anlage KiZ AnA), which covers income, housing costs and assets, and one "Anlage Kind" (Anlage KiZ AnK) for each child. These supplements are separate PDFs from the Familienkasse, and FileIt doesn't fill them yet.

FileIt explains every question of KiZ 1 in English with the German term alongside, and prints your answers into the official Familienkasse PDF. It combines names into the form's single name boxes, prints your IBAN one character per box, checks the IBAN and Kindergeld number formats, and warns if a child you list is 25 or older. Names and dates of birth can be pre-filled from the People records in your vault, and the finished PDF is saved there. FileIt does not submit anything. You sign the form by hand and post it yourself.

Who needs to fill out KiZ 1 — Antrag auf Kinderzuschlag?

• Parents in Germany who receive Kindergeld and whose earnings cover their own needs but are not quite enough for the whole family.
• Single parents on a low income. The form has a place for the children's time with the other parent.
• Couples, married or not, who live together with their children. Both partners' details go on the form and both sets of income count.
• Blended families where each partner receives Kindergeld for their own children. The Familienkasse's filling-in notes say you can apply together, and then both of you sign.
• Families whose previous six-month approval is ending and who need to apply again (a short form, KiZ 1-K, exists if nothing has changed much).

When to use KiZ 1 — Antrag auf Kinderzuschlag

• As soon as you think you might qualify. According to the filling-in notes, the supplement can only be granted from the month of application, so it is not paid for earlier months.
• When your income drops, your rent rises or your family grows. Each of these can change whether you are entitled.
• Before your current approval period ends. Each approval lasts six months, and then a new application is needed.
• The Familienkasse's online KiZ-Lotse lets you check quickly whether an application is likely to be worthwhile before you fill anything in.

What you need before you start

• The Kindergeld number (Kindergeldnummer) of the parent who receives child benefit, and your partner's if they receive Kindergeld for some of the children.
• Names, dates of birth and nationalities of you and your partner, your address, and your marital status with the date it began.
• The IBAN (and BIC for a foreign account) of the account where Kindergeld and the supplement should be paid, and the account holder's name.
• Names and dates of birth of every child you are claiming for. Each must be under 25 and unmarried, with Kindergeld paid to you or your partner.
• Details of children who are not always at home (with the other parent, at a boarding school or in a residence) and roughly how many days they spend where.
• Names, dates of birth and relationships of everyone else living with you permanently, such as grandparents, siblings or adult children.
• The completed Anlage KiZ AnA and one Anlage Kind per child, with copies of proof of income, housing costs and so on.
• A copy of the residence permit for anyone in the family who is not a German, EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, unless the Familienkasse already has a valid one.

What’s on KiZ 1 — Antrag auf Kinderzuschlag

The 2024 edition has 3 pages. FileIt asks for it in 9 parts:

1. Before you start — who receives the Kindergeld (Kopfzeile)Applicant (antragsteller/in)
2. 1 About you (Angaben zu meiner Person)Applicant (antragsteller/in)
3. 2 Your partner living in the household (Partner(in) im Haushalt)Partner (partner/in)
4. 3 Bank account (Angaben zu meiner Kontoverbindung)Applicant (antragsteller/in)
5. 4 Children in the household you apply for (Kinder, für die ich Kinderzuschlag beantrage)Applicant (antragsteller/in)
6. 5 Children from part 4 not always in your household (nicht ständig in meinem Haushalt)Applicant (antragsteller/in)
7. 6 Other children under 25 who stay with you part of the time (weitere Kinder, kein Kindergeld)Applicant (antragsteller/in)
8. 7 Other people living permanently in your household (weitere Personen im Haushalt)Applicant (antragsteller/in)
9. Declaration and signature (Erklärung)Applicant (antragsteller/in)

How to fill out KiZ 1 — Antrag auf Kinderzuschlag, step by step

1 Header — Kindergeld recipient and Kindergeld-Nr.

The box at the top names the person who receives the Kindergeld (kindergeldbeziehende Person) and gives their Kindergeld number, which appears on every Familienkasse letter about child benefit and looks like 123FK456789. The filling-in notes ask that the applicant be the parent who receives the Kindergeld, so this is usually you.

2 1. Angaben zu meiner Person (about you)

Your surname and first name, date of birth, any different birth name or surname from a previous marriage or civil partnership, academic title, full address, sex, nationality and a daytime phone number. Then tick your marital status: single, married or in a registered partnership, divorced or partnership dissolved, separated, or widowed. For every status except single, give the date since when it applies.

3 2. Partner im Haushalt (your partner in the household)

Your spouse, registered partner or the person you share a household and living costs with, whether you are married or not. Give their name (with a different birth name if they have one), nationality and date of birth. Their income is part of the calculation, so they also appear in the Anlage KiZ AnA.

4 3. Kontoverbindung (bank account)

The IBAN is written one character per box, with no spaces. Add the BIC and the account holder's name. The notes explain that the supplement is normally paid together with the Kindergeld, so use the account the Kindergeld goes to.

5 4. Kinder, für die ich Kinderzuschlag beantrage (children you apply for)

List each child in your household you are applying for, with surname, first name and date of birth. The form has room for six. The form's rule is that each child must be under 25 and unmarried, that you or your partner must receive Kindergeld for them, and that they must be your or your partner's own or adopted child. Each child listed here needs an Anlage Kind.

6 5. Kinder, die sich nicht ständig im Haushalt aufhalten (children not always at home)

If any child from part 4 lives partly elsewhere, give their first name and the reason and length of the absence, for example time with the other parent, or a boarding school or residence. For time with the other parent, a general statement is enough: whether the child regularly spends 1–12 or 13–17 days there.

7 6. Weitere Kinder ohne Kindergeld (other children who stay with you part of the time)

Children under 25 who are not listed in part 4, for whom neither you nor your partner receives Kindergeld, and who are with you only part of the time. Typically this is a child who lives mainly with their other parent. If the child is with you roughly half the time, "regularly 13–17 days" is enough. If it is 1–12 days, the exact number is required. A day counts for the parent the child is with first that day.

8 7. Weitere Personen im Haushalt (other people living with you)

Everyone else who lives in your household permanently, for example your own unmarried children under 25 without Kindergeld, married children or children over 25, step-, foster or grandchildren, parents or siblings. Give each person's name, date of birth, and relationship to you and to your partner.

9 Erklärung (declaration, date and signatures)

You confirm that all details, including those in the Anlagen, are correct and complete, that you will report changes without delay, that you have read the Merkblatt Kinderzuschlag, and that you agree to the processing of your data. Date it and sign by hand. Your partner signs as a second applicant only if the Kindergeld for the children in part 4 is paid partly to you and partly to them. In that case they also sign the consent allowing the Familienkasse to use data held for Kindergeld (such as the Kindergeld number and IBAN), and give their Kindergeld number.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Sending KiZ 1 on its own. The Anlage KiZ AnA and one Anlage Kind per child are required, as well as copies of your proof.
• Waiting too long. The supplement starts at the earliest in the month you apply, so a late application can cost you money.
• Listing a child who is 25 or older, married, or not receiving Kindergeld in part 4. Such children belong in part 7 if they live with you.
• Forgetting part 7. Everyone who lives in the household permanently, including grandparents or adult children, must be listed.
• Giving an account other than the one the Kindergeld is paid to, or mistyping the IBAN.
• Leaving out the partner's signature when the Kindergeld for the children is split between the two of you.
• Assuming it renews automatically. Each approval covers six months, and you have to apply again afterwards.

After you fill it out

Print the form and sign it by hand (a legal representative signs for an applicant who can't). Have your partner sign too if they are a second applicant. Put it together with the signed Anlage KiZ AnA, one Anlage Kind per child and copies of your proof, and post the originals to the Familienkasse of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, as the form instructs. You can also apply entirely online through the Familienkasse's website using the BundID, without printing or a handwritten signature.

The Familienkasse will contact you if anything is missing. Keep the filled KiZ 1 and copies of everything you sent in your FileIt vault. The approval covers six months, so note when it ends and apply again in time. If nothing has changed much, the short form KiZ 1-K may be enough.

While you receive the supplement, report changes to the Familienkasse straight away, for example in income, rent, household members or bank details, as you promise in the declaration.

KiZ 1 — Antrag auf Kinderzuschlag: frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Familienkasse (BA): https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/datei/kiz1-antrag_ba036540.pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/familie-und-kinder/downloads-familie-und-kinder/formulare-kinderzuschlag
• Edition shown on this page: KiZ 1 - 02.24 - Stand September 2024 (Vorblatt 01.25, Stand Januar 2025) (checked 2026-09-26).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Familienkasse (BA) 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 2026-09-26.

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