The Frühstart-Rente (early-start pension for children) is not meant to begin for all children at once, so the birth year is the decisive question. Under the Frühstartrentengesetz (FrühStRG), state payments start with the 2020 birth cohort. This guide explains which children are covered first, how later cohorts are added and what applies to older children. What the Frühstart-Rente is overall is explained in Frühstart-Rente: Was sie bringt und wer sie bekommt (in German).
Quick answer: According to the federal government bill (Bundestag paper 21/7864), the Frühstart-Rente starts with the 2020 birth cohort, that is, children who turn six in 2026. From 2027 the cohort turning six in that calendar year is added each year. The federal government pays 10 euros a month. The Bundestag passed the law on 16 October 2026, but the procedure is not yet complete. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- The first cohort is 2020, the children who have their sixth birthday in 2026.
- Children are entitled from their completed 6th year until they turn 18, with their first residence in Germany and a tax identification number.
- The federal government pays 10 euros per month of eligibility, payment ends with the month before the 18th birthday.
- Older children under 18 can take out a contract but receive no state payments.
- The bill provides for entry into force on 1 January 2027. The Bundestag approved it on 16 October 2026, and according to the available sources the Bundesrat and promulgation are still pending.
Which birth cohorts receive the Frühstart-Rente?
The explanatory memorandum to the bill names the 2020 cohort as the first eligible one, meaning those who are six in 2026. From 2027 the cohort turning six in that calendar year is added (Bundestag paper 21/7864, explanatory memorandum and section 30). The Bundestag page on the vote confirms this staging. The following table puts it in order. The rows for 2022 and later follow from the rule and are not separate statements of the law.
| Birth year | Sixth birthday | State payment under the bill |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2026 | Yes, first eligible cohort |
| 2021 | 2027 | Yes, added in 2027 |
| 2022 | 2028 | Yes, under the annual rule (derived) |
| 2019 and earlier | before 2026 | Contract possible, but no state payments (section 3(4)) |
| 2023 to 2025 (not yet six) | from 2029 | Only from the year of the sixth birthday (derived) |
The rule means that whether your child is among the first is decided by the birth year alone, not the birth month. A child born in December 2020 belongs to the same cohort as one born in January 2020.
When does payment begin, and is there a retroactive start?
According to the bill, the law is to enter into force on 1 January 2027 (Article 8(1), Bundesrat paper 445/26). Payments go quarterly to the provider, under section 8(1) also for past months. In its notice of 13 August 2026, the German pension insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) described the start for the 2020 cohort as retroactive to 1 January 2026 and marked this as expected (notice of 13 August 2026). Do not rely on a single date. Only the promulgated legal text will be binding.
The amount of payments has an upper limit that follows from the age span. Assumption: a child meets all conditions from the sixth to the 18th birthday.
- The period covers twelve years, which is 144 months.
- At 10 euros a month this gives at most 1,440 euros of state contributions.
- Returns and costs are not included, and for children of the 2020 cohort the actual number of months depends on when eligibility begins.
What conditions must a child meet?
Under section 1(2) of the bill, the child must have completed the sixth year of life and not yet the 18th, have a first residence in Germany and hold an identification number under section 139b of the Tax Code (Abgabenordnung). Entitlement attaches to children within the meaning of section 32(1) of the Income Tax Act (Bundestag paper 21/7864). How to find your child’s number is explained in Frühstart-Rente und Steuer-ID (in German).
What happens to children without a contract?
For eligible children who do not conclude their own contract, section 21 of the bill provides for a collective investment. The federal government invests the Frühstart-Rente for the benefit of the eligible people of a birth cohort on the capital market. The related special fund is to be set up on 1 January 2028 and the Deutsche Bundesbank manages it. Under section 27, no return and no compensation for losses is guaranteed. The first transfer for a cohort is planned for 30 June of the year after the cohort turns seven at the latest.
| Case | Who pays and where to | Provision in the bill |
|---|---|---|
| Child has a contract concluded via the parents | Federal government pays quarterly to the provider | Section 8(1) |
| Child without a contract | Federal government invests collectively for the cohort | Section 21 |
| Older children under 18 | Contract possible, no state payment | Section 3(4), section 30 |
Where does the legislative procedure stand?
The federal government sent the bill to the Bundesrat on 14 August 2026 and designated it as particularly urgent. The Bundestag received it on 7 September 2026 as paper 21/7864. The Bundesrat gave its opinion on 25 September 2026 (Bundesrat paper 445/26 (decision)). The Bundestag passed the law on 16 October 2026 in the version of the finance committee. CDU/CSU and SPD voted in favour, the Greens and the Left against, and the AfD abstained (Bundestag text archive). No date is available for the further route in the Bundesrat and for promulgation, so the law is still in the procedure. An overview of the open points is in Frühstart-Rente beschlossen? Was feststeht und was noch offen ist (in German).
Frequently asked questions
My child was born in 2021. When does it receive the Frühstart-Rente?
Under the annual rule the 2021 cohort is included in 2027, because the children turn six then. This depends on the law being promulgated in this version.
My child is older than six and not in the 2020 cohort. Does it miss out?
As far as state payments go, yes, unless it belongs to the 2020 cohort or a later one. Under section 3(4) of the bill a contract is also possible for older children under 18, but without state payments.
Does the birth month matter?
Under the staging in the explanatory memorandum, the birth year counts. Entitlement begins only upon completing the sixth year of life, however, and the monthly amounts run until the month before the 18th birthday.
Does the Frühstart-Rente apply to children living abroad?
The condition is a first residence in Germany. For deviating situations the German pension insurance, as central office, is the right contact.
What to do now
- Check your child’s birth year and assign it to the 2020 cohort or a later one.
- Find your child’s tax identification number, because without it there is no entitlement under section 16(5) of the bill.
- Follow whether the law is promulgated and which dates appear in the Federal Law Gazette.
- Decide on a contract only afterwards, and if needed get a personal assessment from Academycon.
Related guides
- Altersvorsorge 2027: Der Überblick zu Depot, Frühstart-Rente und Riester (in German)
- Frühstart-Rente anmelden: Muss man als Elternteil einen Antrag stellen? (in German)
- Frühstart-Rente Steuer-ID: Braucht mein Kind eine Steuernummer? (in German)
- Frühstart-Rente beschlossen? Was feststeht und was noch offen ist (in German)
Sources: Bundesrat, paper 445/26, bill for an act introducing a Frühstartrente, 14 August 2026; Bundestag, paper 21/7864, Frühstartrentengesetz, 7 September 2026; Bundesrat, paper 445/26 (decision), 25 September 2026; Bundestag, vote of 16 October 2026; Deutsche Rentenversicherung, notice of 13 August 2026.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
