Parliament’s cabinet has decided that child benefit will be paid automatically after a child’s birth, eliminating the need for parents to submit an application. The law will take effect on 1 January 2027, with the automatic payments rolled out in two stages during that year.
In the first stage, starting in March 2027, additional children will receive child benefit without an application to the person who is already receiving the benefit. From November 2027 the payment for the first child will also be made automatically, provided the required conditions are met.
Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) said the law should relieve families and cut bureaucracy. Labour Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) added that this step makes the welfare state “more transparent, efficient, and citizen‑friendly”. She noted that young parents often have too many responsibilities and little time for paperwork, and that the no‑application benefit will ease their burden.