Marriage bonus in Germany. Life in Germany. Civil servants in Germany get many financial benefits that are often better than those available to people working for private companies. These include higher pensions, family allowances, and special benefits, making civil servant jobs very appealing. In some federal states, there are extra bonuses for spouses, which causes some controversy and reluctance.
Financial benefits for German officials
Civil servants in Germany receive many financial benefits, but they also have obligations, such as not being able to go on strike and potentially being transferred within a certain area. The financial differences are a constant source of resentment.
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For example, civil servants get much higher pensions than the standard state pension. Families receive family benefits that are much higher than the regular child benefit. In some federal states, married couples also get bonuses just for being married, according to Merkur.de.
Marriage bonus in Germany
This supplement, called “ehegattenbezogener Familienzuschlag,” is usually granted in the following circumstances:
- The civil servant is married or in a registered partnership
- In the event of the death of an official, a widow or widower’s allowance is payable
- The official is divorced and obliged to pay alimony
Not every federal state has introduced a family allowance related to a spouse. However, the trade union Deutscher Beamtenbund provides information on its website about individual pay tables. According to them, the so-called marriage bonus is available in the following federal states:
- Baden-Württemberg: €158.80
- Berlin: 142.92 to 150.10 euros
- Hesse: 155.66 to 1361.44 euros
- Rhineland-Palatinate: 77.11 euros
- Thuringia: 165.59 euros
The amounts stated are gross amounts and are paid monthly as a supplement to the basic salary. The bonus must be applied for at the relevant wage office in the federal state.