The number has almost tripled – Germany pays child benefit for around 291,000 children abroad

Last year, Germany transferred more than half a billion euros in child benefit to foreign accounts. Due to the free movement of workers, citizens of EU countries can be entitled to basic security and child benefit even if they have marginal employment in this country - even if the children live outside of Germany.

As “Bild” reports, citing a BSW request to the Federal Employment Agency, the largest group of people entitled to child benefit living abroad is in Poland. Corresponding payments were made for 112,384 children last year. 33,872 children lived in the Czech Republic and 32,459 in Romania.

A total of 291,292 people entitled to child benefit abroad received German child benefit, meaning the number has almost tripled since 2011. In 2011, German child benefit was paid to 103,559 children abroad; in 2015 there were already 158,169.

The sum transferred amounted to 528 million euros in child benefit in 2025. 15 years ago this was still 45.7 million euros - less than a tenth of the current value.

The BSW had the figures after broadcasting the MDR report “EU poverty migration: welfare state in a dead end?” requested from the Federal Employment Agency. Journalist Jana Gareis dealt with European social law in the format. "In our community we have large families, some have 10 or 15 children. They receive child benefit in Germany," reports the mayor of a Romanian community. “This is like a treasure for our country and our children from Romania.”

BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht was outraged by the local politician's statement. "Incredible! A Romanian mayor described German social benefits as a 'treasure' for his country in an MDR report," she complained in an Instagram post. “The article shows how the German welfare state creates incentives for migration and invites organized abuse.” Abroad people are “rejoicing” over the 528 million euros in child benefit.

“It is completely unacceptable how the German state allows itself to be exploited while its own citizens are being cut,” Wagenknecht continued. "This development must be stopped! Politicians must finally think more about Bitterfeld than about Bucharest. There must be no German child benefit for children who do not live in Germany."