In 2017 Germany's Federal Employment Agency paid out 343 million euros in child benefits for EU citizens working in Germany with children living in their countries of origin, RND media group reported on Wednesday (March 21).

The data was included in a response to an information request placed by German MPs from the far-right populist Alternative for Germany (AfD). According to the report, the amount has increased almost tenfold over the last seven years, from 35.8 million euros in 2010.

The biggest number of foreign children having one or both parents working in Germany is in Poland (103,000), followed by Croatia and Romania with 17,000 children each.
German government considered a bill a year ago which proposed child benefits paid to children in foreign countries is equalised with child benefits in their country of residence. The bill, however, was struck down by the European Commission.

In Germany, the monthly allowance paid by the government for the first and second child is 194 euros, increasing to 200 euros for the third child and to 225 euros for the fourth child, which is substantially higher compared to EU countries receiving most of German child benefits.