German benefit payment dates 2026 and 2027: when your money arrives

Until March 2004, German pensions were paid at the start of the month, in advance. For every pension starting on or after 1 April 2004, section 118 SGB VI applies: the pension falls due at the end of the month it covers and is credited on that month's last bank business day. Pensions that began earlier keep the old rhythm under section 272a SGB VI and arrive on the last bank business day of the month before. The same applies to a survivor's pension that directly follows such a pension. In practice both groups are paid on the same calendar day; only the month the money is for differs.

On 1 July 2026 pensions rose by 4.24 per cent; the pension value has been €42.52 since then (German Pension Insurance). The federal government sets the pension value for 1 July 2027 by regulation under section 69 SGB VI, by 30 June 2027 at the latest. More under pension increase 2027.

The Kindergeld number has eleven characters, such as 123FK456789; what counts is the last digit. The Familienkasse spreads its payments over the month, digit 0 in the first week and digit 9 from mid-month to the end. Under section 66 EStG Kindergeld is €259 a month per child. For 2027 a government bill proposes €267; it has not been passed yet. Where to find your number and why the digit matters is explained under Kindergeld number and last digit.

Since 1 July 2026 the benefit for jobseekers has been called Grundsicherungsgeld (formerly Bürgergeld); the Bundestag passed the reform on 5 March 2026 and the Bundesrat approved it on 27 March 2026 (Federal Government). The payment day has not changed: under section 42(1) SGB II the money is paid monthly in advance. On application, subsection 2 lets the Jobcenter pay up to €100 of the next payment early. The standard rate for a single adult is €563 in 2026 (Federal Government); no figure has been set for 2027 yet.

A date on this site is the day the payment should be credited under the rule. If it does not come, first check your award notice: the first payment after an application often runs on its own schedule, back payments come separately, and after a change of bank account the day can shift once. If the money is still missing two or three bank business days after the date, contact the office that pays it: Familienkasse, pension insurance, Jobcenter, employment agency, housing benefit office or student finance office. How this site calculates is set out in the method.

Transfers between banks in Europe run through the central banks' TARGET system. It closes on six days a year: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, 1 May, 25 and 26 December (European Central Bank). In Germany, Ascension Day, Whit Monday and 3 October are added, when banks do not post. No benefit is credited on any of these days. The pages bank business days 2026 and bank business days 2027 list every day with the first and last of each month.