Family Allowance Austria 2026/2027: Payment Dates & Amounts

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The family allowance in Austria (Familienbeihilfe, sometimes called child benefit) is €138.40 to €200.40 per child per month in both 2026 and 2027, unchanged from 2025. The annual inflation adjustment (Valorisierung) is suspended by law for 2026 through 2028 (Budget Accompanying Act 2025, BGBl. I No. 25/2025, extended by BGBl. I No. 62/2026), so the amounts stay frozen at 2025 levels.

For most households, that means no cut to the payment itself, but also no adjustment for inflation. This guide covers the exact amounts by age bracket, why the freeze happened, when the payment lands each month and what is already known for 2027, how to apply, and how to offset the real loss in purchasing power. If rising child healthcare costs are part of your budget planning, our health insurance guide for Austria is a useful companion read. You can also check current family supplementary tariffs directly at durchblicker.at (ad).

Key takeaways

• Family allowance 2026/2027: €138.40 (from birth) to €200.40 (from age 19) per child per month, unchanged from 2025
• The annual increase (Valorisierung) is suspended by law for 2026 through 2028; according to the family ministry, the foregone increase averages roughly €4.20 per month
• Child tax credit (Kinderabsetzbetrag): €70.90 per child per month, paid automatically alongside the allowance
• Multi-child supplement (Mehrkindzuschlag): €24.40 per month from the third child, income limit €55,000 (2026), requires a separate application
• Next payment dates: Friday, 6 November 2026 and Monday, 7 December 2026; rule: credited by the 8th of the month at the latest
• For births in Austria, the allowance has been paid automatically since 2015, no application needed

How much is Austria's family allowance in 2026 and 2027?

The base amounts rise with the child's age and apply unchanged across calendar years 2025, 2026 and 2027. The adjustment is also suspended for 2028 (BGBl. I No. 62/2026); the Federal Chancellery has not yet published an official amount for 2028.

Source: Federal Chancellery: Familienbeihilfenbeträge, confirmed by oesterreich.gv.at: Höhe der Familienbeihilfe.

More children, higher amount per child

From the second child onward, a sibling supplement (Geschwisterstaffelung) is added on top of the base amount. The full official scale, valid from 2025 through 2027:

A worked example makes the scale tangible: a family with three children aged 2, 8 and 12 receives base amounts of €138.40 + €148.00 + €171.80, plus three times €21.10 in sibling supplements and three times €70.90 in child tax credit. That adds up to €734.20 per month. For any other constellation, use the official Federal Chancellery family allowance calculator or the Chamber of Labour (Arbeiterkammer) calculator. Both factor in supplements, age and special cases automatically.

Why was the family allowance frozen?

On 7 May 2025, after the Council of Ministers met, the Austrian government announced that it would suspend the annual inflation adjustment (Valorisierung) of the family allowance and the childcare benefit (Kinderbetreuungsgeld) for 2026 and 2027. It was written into law by the Budget Accompanying Act 2025 (BGBl. I No. 25/2025, published on 30 June 2025). The Budget Accompanying Act 2027-2028 (BGBl. I No. 62/2026, published on 29 July 2026) extended the suspension to 2028. The amounts therefore stay at nominal 2025 levels. This is not a cut to what families receive, but it is not an adjustment for the higher cost of living either.

Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) put it this way: "No one will receive less; the increase is simply being suspended for two years." The Greens took a more critical view and described the measure as a cut for children and families. Caritas Secretary General Anna Parr said: "If cuts have to be made, then please in a socially fair way."

According to the family ministry, the foregone increase averages roughly €4.20 per month. For the state budget, the government puts the savings at over €100 million in 2026 and over €200 million in 2027 (family allowance).

Source: ORF: Family allowance and parental leave benefit frozen for 2026/2027, cross-checked against the identical 2025, 2026 and 2027 figures in the official Federal Chancellery table. Legal text: RIS: BGBl. I No. 25/2025 and RIS: BGBl. I No. 62/2026.

Family allowance payment dates 2026: every month

The family allowance is transferred automatically to your bank account each month. The official rule: regardless of Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays, the money is credited by the 8th of each month at the latest; this applies to transfers to a current account in the SEPA area (Federal Chancellery, oesterreich.gv.at). Next payment date: Friday, 6 November 2026, followed by Monday, 7 December 2026. The calendar published by the Federal Chancellery for 2026:

In some months the published date falls before the 8th (February, March, August, November, December). The Federal Chancellery gives no official reason for this; the dates in the table are the ones that count.

Payment date by month: the answer in one sentence

• Family allowance January 2026: date published by the Federal Chancellery: Thursday, 8 January 2026.
• Family allowance February 2026: date published by the Federal Chancellery: Friday, 6 February 2026.
• Family allowance March 2026: date published by the Federal Chancellery: Friday, 6 March 2026.
• Family allowance April 2026: date published by the Federal Chancellery: Wednesday, 8 April 2026.
• Family allowance May 2026: date published by the Federal Chancellery: Friday, 8 May 2026.
• Family allowance June 2026: date published by the Federal Chancellery: Monday, 8 June 2026.
• Family allowance July 2026: date published by the Federal Chancellery: Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
• Family allowance August 2026: date published by the Federal Chancellery: Friday, 7 August 2026; this payment also includes the school start money of €121.40 for children aged between 6 and 15.
• Family allowance September 2026: date published by the Federal Chancellery: Tuesday, 8 September 2026.
• Family allowance October 2026: date published by the Federal Chancellery: Thursday, 8 October 2026.
• Family allowance November 2026: date published by the Federal Chancellery: Friday, 6 November 2026.
• Family allowance December 2026: date published by the Federal Chancellery: Monday, 7 December 2026.

Payment dates 2027: what is already known

As of 15 October 2026, the Federal Chancellery has not yet published a calendar with the exact days for 2027; it published the 2026 calendar on 2 December 2025. The official rule is already fixed: the monthly family allowance is credited by the 8th of the month at the latest, regardless of weekends and public holidays. The amounts stay the same in 2027 (the inflation adjustment is suspended). We will add the 2027 calendar as soon as the Federal Chancellery publishes it.

Source: Federal Chancellery: Payment dates for the family allowance in 2026, oesterreich.gv.at: Amount and payment of the family allowance (German)

Child tax credit and multi-child supplement: what else am I entitled to?

Beyond the family allowance itself, two related benefits are often confused with it.

The child tax credit is not family allowance but a distinct tax credit (a form of negative income tax) that is paid out automatically together with the family allowance. You don't need to apply for it separately.

The multi-child supplement, on the other hand, is income-tested and is not paid automatically. You apply for it separately for each calendar year at the Austrian tax office (Finanzamt Österreich): with the income tax return (form E1) or the employee tax assessment (form L1), or on form E4 if there is no assessment. The income limit for 2026 is €55,000; what counts is the family's taxable income of the previous year, so the 2026 supplement is based on 2025 income (Federal Chancellery: Mehrkindzuschlag). For a walk-through of the employee tax assessment, see our tax return guide for Austria.

School start money of €121.40 is paid together with the August family allowance for every child aged between 6 and 15; in 2026 that covers children born between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2020. No separate application is needed.

All of these amounts remain unchanged for calendar years 2025, 2026 and 2027; the inflation adjustment is also suspended for 2028.

Increased family allowance: the disability supplement

The increased family allowance (erhöhte Familienbeihilfe) is not a separate base amount but a supplement of €189.20 per month, paid on top of the age-based family allowance for a child with a significant disability. A 12-year-old with a recognised significant disability therefore receives €171.80 + €189.20 = €361.00 per month, before child tax credit and sibling supplements.

The supplement has to be applied for separately at the tax office. The degree of disability (at least 50 percent) must be certified by the Sozialministeriumservice on the basis of a medical expert opinion (application with form Beih 3). The detailed conditions and procedure are explained by the Sozialministeriumservice on its increased family allowance page (German); see also Federal Chancellery: Erhöhte Familienbeihilfe.

How to apply: usually it happens automatically

Since May 2015, Austria has operated an application-free family allowance (antragslose Familienbeihilfe): when a child is born in Austria, the tax office checks the conditions on its own and transfers the money to the parents' account. In the standard case, no application is needed (oesterreich.gv.at: Familienbeihilfe – Beantragung, German).

In all other cases an application is still required, for example if the child was not born in Austria or if the other parent is to receive the allowance (the other parent then files form Beih 100, together with a waiver on form Beih 99). The application on form Beih 100 goes to the Austrian tax office (Finanzamt Österreich), fastest electronically via FinanzOnline. The multi-child supplement, as described above, always needs its own application. For expats, this is the main practical difference: a child born in Austria triggers the payment automatically, while a child born abroad needs a Beih 100 application first.

Family allowance for students and over-19s

The base amount for age 19 and up (€200.40) does not automatically continue until the end of a degree. Eligibility generally runs until the child's 24th birthday and extends to the 25th in specific cases, for example after military or civilian service, in the event of pregnancy or the birth of the student's own child, or with a significant disability. The child must also be in education or training; for a degree, this specifically includes staying within the standard study period plus permitted grace semesters (oesterreich.gv.at: Familienbeihilfe for students, German).

Important for students with a side job: the income limit applies from the calendar year after the year of the 19th birthday. In 2026 and 2027 it is €17,212 of taxable income per calendar year. If income goes above it, the family allowance is reduced only by the amount by which the limit was exceeded (the tapering rule, Einschleifregelung). Apprenticeship pay and orphan's pensions do not count (oesterreich.gv.at: Familienbeihilfe, application and income limit, German).

How families can offset the freeze

The suspended increase is not a dramatic blow for most households, but it adds up over three years (2026 to 2028) and across multiple children. Three practical ways to offset the real loss of purchasing power in your family budget:

Save for your child over the long term. A building savings plan (Bausparen) offsets inflation effects over several years better than a plain savings account, if you're already setting money aside regularly for your child. Details on lock-in periods, the state premium and current conditions are in our building savings guide for Austria.

Cover rising child healthcare costs. Waiting times for public-system doctors and the extra cost of things like orthodontics or a private specialist often hit families harder than the frozen allowance itself. For a look at what things actually cost in Austria, see our cost of living guide for Austria. Current family supplementary insurance tariffs are available directly at durchblicker.at health insurance (ad).

Plan bigger purchases instead of covering them out of the household budget. If a larger purchase is coming up, from a child's room to a family car, it's worth checking financing conditions in advance. Our loan guide for Austria covers current rates and banks, or you can check car loan conditions at durchblicker.at (ad).

Frequently asked questions about Austria's family allowance 2026/2027

Will the family allowance increase in 2026 or 2027?

No. The annual inflation adjustment (Valorisierung) is suspended by law for 2026 through 2028 (BGBl. I No. 25/2025, extended by BGBl. I No. 62/2026). Amounts stay at 2025 levels, and nothing is cut. The official sources we checked contain no legal rule for 2029 so far.

When is the family allowance paid in 2026?

Monthly, by the 8th of the month at the latest, regardless of weekends and public holidays; this applies to current accounts in the SEPA area. The next dates are Friday, 6 November 2026, and Monday, 7 December 2026. All twelve dates for 2026 are in the table above.

When is the family allowance paid in January 2027?

As of 15 October 2026, the Federal Chancellery has not yet published a calendar for 2027. The official rule applies: the money is credited by the 8th of the month at the latest. The amounts stay the same in 2027. We will add the dates to this page as soon as they are published.

How much child benefit do I get per child in Austria in 2026?

Austria's family allowance, often loosely called child benefit or Kindergeld, is between €138.40 (from birth) and €200.40 (from age 19) per child per month. Families with several children also receive the sibling supplement, plus €70.90 child tax credit per child paid automatically.

What is the difference between the family allowance and the child tax credit?

The family allowance is the main benefit (€138.40 to €200.40 depending on age). The child tax credit (Kinderabsetzbetrag) is a separate credit of €70.90 per child per month, paid automatically on top of the family allowance with no separate application needed.

Who is eligible for the multi-child supplement?

The multi-child supplement of €24.40 per month applies to families from their third child. The income limit for 2026 is €55,000 in taxable family income of the previous year. It is not paid automatically: you apply for it separately each year at the Austrian tax office (Finanzamt Österreich), with form E1, form L1 or, if there is no assessment, form E4.

How do I apply for the family allowance in Austria?

For a birth in Austria, usually not at all: the application-free family allowance has applied since May 2015. In all other cases, submit form Beih 100 to the Austrian tax office (Finanzamt Österreich), or file it electronically via FinanzOnline. If the other parent is to receive the allowance, that parent applies with Beih 100, together with a waiver on form Beih 99.

Do students still receive family allowance?

Yes, generally until the 24th birthday, and up to the 25th in specific cases. The degree has to stay within the minimum study period plus grace semesters. From the calendar year after the 19th birthday, an income limit of €17,212 per year applies (2026 and 2027). Above that limit, the allowance is reduced only by the amount over the limit.

Conclusion: same amounts, lower real value

Austria's family allowance stays at €138.40 to €200.40 per child per month in 2026 and 2027, unchanged from 2025, and the freeze also covers 2028. That's not a cut, but with the inflation adjustment suspended, it isn't an adjustment for rising prices either. According to the family ministry, the foregone increase averages roughly €4.20 per month. The child tax credit and multi-child supplement continue independently, also at frozen levels.

Keeping the payment calendar in view and actively planning for the freeze until 2028 in your household budget, whether through building savings or covering rising healthcare costs, gets you through 2026 and 2027 without surprises. For an exact calculation of your personal situation, especially with multiple children, the official family allowance calculator from the Federal Chancellery is the best starting point.

Last updated: 15 October 2026. Amounts per the Austrian Federal Chancellery (valid for 2025, 2026 and 2027); legal basis BGBl. I No. 25/2025 and BGBl. I No. 62/2026.

Sources

• Federal Chancellery: Familienbeihilfenbeträge
• Federal Chancellery: Höhe der Familienleistungen
• Federal Chancellery: Mehrkindzuschlag
• oesterreich.gv.at: Höhe der Familienbeihilfe
• Federal Chancellery: Payment dates for the family allowance in 2026
• Federal Chancellery: Family allowance calculator
• oesterreich.gv.at: Familienbeihilfe – Beantragung
• Sozialministeriumservice: Erhöhte Familienbeihilfe
• Chamber of Labour (Arbeiterkammer): Familienbeihilfe
• ORF: Family allowance and parental leave benefit frozen for 2026/2027
• RIS: Budget Accompanying Act 2025, BGBl. I No. 25/2025
• RIS: Budget Accompanying Act 2027-2028, BGBl. I No. 62/2026
• Parliament: Government bill 523 d.B.
• Federal Chancellery: Erhöhte Familienbeihilfe