Many parents lose pension points without realizing it. Child-raising credits in Germany can be worth hundreds of euros. Read more.
Many parents in Germany receive Kindergeld (child benefit) every month.
What most people do not know is this:
There is a second government benefit that can have an even larger financial impact on your retirement. It is called child-raising time (Kindererziehungszeit).
This rule allows parents to receive pension credits for raising their children, even if they worked less or stopped working during those years. Over an entire retirement period, this benefit can be worth more than 30,000€ per child in additional pension value.
Yet many families lose this benefit simply because they do not know it exists or how to claim it properly.
Many parents search online for:
“child raising pension credits Germany”
or
“pension points per child Germany”
but are unsure how the process actually works.
Child-raising time (Kindererziehungszeit) is a pension recognition period within the German statutory pension system. It acknowledges that parents contribute to society by raising children. During the first years of a child's life, the German government treats the parent as if pension contributions had been paid into the German pension system.
For every child: 3 years of child-raising time are credited to the pension account.
During this period, the responsible parent receives pension points, which increase their future German statutory pension (gesetzliche Rente). The purpose of this rule is simple: Parents should not be disadvantaged in retirement simply because they raised children.
Child-raising time in the German pension system corresponds roughly to the average income level of a typical employee in Germany.
This means:
For each child, parents receive 3 pension points (for three years of child-raising time). As of 2026, one pension point equals roughly 40€ of monthly pension income.
This results in approximately:
122€ additional monthly pension per child.
This pension increase is:
paid for life
independent of where you live in retirement
adjusted over time through German pension adjustments
1 child
→ approx. 122€ additional pension per month
2 children
→ approx. 244€ additional pension per month
3 children
→ approx. 366€ additional pension per month
Over an entire retirement period, this can quickly result in:
30,000€ - 40,000€ additional pension value per child.
Many families therefore massively underestimate the real value of child-raising credits in the German pension system.
In general, the rule applies to parents who raise a child in Germany.
The most important conditions are:
✅ The child was born in Germany or registered in Germany
✅ One parent was primarily responsible for raising the child
✅ The child was actually raised in Germany during the early years
Important to know:
This rule does not only apply to German citizens.
International families and expats living in Germany may also qualify for child-raising pension credits.
This means:
Non-German parents can receive pension points
Expats may benefit from the German pension system
Even if you move abroad later, the pension rights remain
The German statutory pension can be paid worldwide.
For many international families, this is a largely overlooked retirement benefit.
If you prefer video content on this topic, you can also watch our explanation here.
To InstagramMany parents assume that the pension system automatically knows who raised a child.
That is only partially correct. The German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) knows that a child exists.
But it does not automatically know which parent should receive the child-raising pension credits.
Therefore, this period must be formally confirmed.
If this clarification never happens:
the child-raising period is not recorded
no pension points are credited
the pension benefit is lost
Parents who reduced their working hours after the birth of a child should especially check whether their child-raising time has been correctly recorded.
How many pension points do you get per child in Germany?
Parents receive three years of child-raising credits, which currently equal roughly 122€ additional monthly pension per child.
Do expats qualify for child-raising pension credits?
Yes. International families and expats may qualify if the child was raised in Germany.
Which form is required to claim child-raising time?
The official form issued by the German Pension Insurance is Form V0800.
Can child-raising time be claimed retroactively?
Yes, as long as the pension account has not been finalized.
Form V0800: How to claim child-raising pension credits
To have child-raising time recorded, parents must submit the official form issued by the German Pension Insurance:
This form allows the pension authority to confirm:
which parent primarily raised the child
the period during which the child was raised
whether this time should be credited in the pension account
The form can be submitted in several ways.
If you are thinking about your family's long-term financial future, these articles may also be helpful:
Saving for children in Germany: The complete guide for parents
Household optimization: How families can save up to 900€ per year
These topics show how children’s investments, government benefits and financial structure work together.
Applications are submitted through the German Pension Insurance (DRV).
The process is relatively simple.
Alternatively, you can schedule a consultation appointment with the German Pension Insurance.
Yes.
Child-raising time can usually be recorded retroactively as long as your pension account has not been finalized.
However, it is recommended to clarify these periods as early as possible.
This is particularly important for:
families with multiple children
families with international careers
parents working part-time or self-employed
expats who may leave Germany later
The earlier these periods are recorded, the easier it is to avoid mistakes.
Many parents underestimate this rule or assume incorrect things.
No. The assignment must be formally confirmed.
It also applies to international families living in Germany.
The German pension can be paid worldwide.
In reality, it represents over 1,400€ of pension value per year - per child.
Child-raising credits are not just a bonus.
They are a structural component of retirement planning for families in Germany.
They become particularly important when parents:
reduce working hours after childbirth
take career breaks
work as freelancers or self-employed
have periods without full pension contributions
In these situations, child-raising pension credits can significantly reduce future pension gaps.
Conclusion
Child-raising time is one of the most important and most frequently overlooked elements of retirement planning for families in Germany. This is especially true for expats and international families, who often do not realize they may qualify for German pension credits.
Parents who raise children in Germany often automatically have the right to additional pension points. However, without proper registration in the pension account, this benefit can be lost.
Therefore:
If you are raising children in Germany, it is important to verify that your child-raising periods are correctly recorded.
Because:
Pension points today can make a significant difference in your retirement income tomorrow.
Many families discover during a structured review that the real issue is not individual contracts, but the overall financial structure of the household.
Especially if you:
are raising children in Germany
have multiple financial contracts or insurance policies
are unsure whether your structure is optimized long-term
a structured review can provide clarity.
Review your family’s financial structure
