🧒 Kita & Child Benefit Checklist

Apply for Kita voucher at Jugendamt
Berlin/Brandenburg — required before searching; free. Visit Kitas & join waiting lists
Contact 5–10 Kitas — register early (from birth!). Clarify parent fee & meal cost
Berlin: Kita free from 1 year. Other states — income-based. Apply for Kindergeld (€255/month)
At the Familienkasse — online or post. Retroactive max. 6 months! Elterngeld (if not yet)
Up to 14 months — our calculator helps with amounts. Check Kinderzuschlag (+up to €297)
With low income — on top of Kindergeld. Deduct Kita costs as Werbungskosten
2/3 of costs, max. €4,000/child/year (§10 EStG). Plan settling-in (2–4 weeks)
Inform employer — settling-in needs flexibility. Documents: vaccination card, birth certificate, proofs
Measles vaccination proof is mandatory for Kita. Coordinate parental leave
Who drops off, who picks up? Part-time possible for both.