Elterngeld

Parental allowance is an income-related benefit from the federal government for you as parents and replaces the federal child-raising allowance from January 1, 2007. You will receive the allowance during the first twelve months after the birth of your child.

Parental allowance is an income-related benefit from the federal government for you as parents and replaces the federal child-raising allowance from January 1, 2007. You will receive the allowance for the first twelve months after the birth of your child. If you share parental leave with your partner, you will be granted parental allowance for a further two months. Single parents who have sole custody can claim it for 14 months.

Parental Allowance Plus allows parents to claim parental allowance for longer; twice as long but at a maximum of half the amount. One previous parental allowance month becomes two Parental Allowance Plus months. Parents can also receive a partnership bonus: four additional Parental Allowance Plus months if they work between 25 and 30 hours per week during this time. This also applies to separated parents who work part-time together as parents. Single parents are entitled to the full partnership bonus.

The parental allowance is based on the net income of the parent who either stays at home completely to look after the children or reduces their working hours.
Parental allowance is tax-free.

• Birth certificate of the child or certified printout from the birth register
• Proof of income (e.g. the last available income tax assessment notice)
• Confirmation from your employer if you work part-time or a declaration of your working hours if you are self-employed
• Certificate from the health insurance company about maternity benefit
• If applicable, a certificate from your employer confirming their contribution to maternity benefit
• If applying for parental allowance for 14 months: additionally
  • Proof that the other parent is claiming two months of the allowance, or
  • Proof that you are a single parent, have sole custody or sole right of residence for your child and the other parent does not live with you and the child in the same home

If one parent is unable to look after their child, for example due to a serious illness, parental allowance can also be granted for 14 months.

• You have your place of residence or habitual abode in Germany.
• Your child lives with you in the same household.
• You look after and bring up your child yourself.
• You do not work more than 30 hours per week while receiving parental allowance.
• Parent couples who had a joint taxable income of more than 500,000 euros in the calendar year before the birth of their child are not entitled to parental allowance. Single parents are not entitled to parental allowance if they had a taxable income of more than 250,000 euros in the calendar year before the birth.

Parental allowance is based on the amount of monthly adjusted net income available, which is calculated from the average income from employment in the last twelve calendar months before the child's month of birth. If the net income before the birth is

- of EUR 1,240 and more at 65 percent,

- from 1,220 euros to 66 percent,

- between 1,000 euros and 1,200 euros at 67 percent.

replaced.

Parental allowance amounts to a maximum of 1,800 euros (900 euros for Parental Allowance Plus). Parents without income receive at least 300 euros (150 euros for Parental Allowance Plus).

In the case of multiple births, you will receive 300 euros (150 euros for Parental Allowance Plus) in addition to the parental allowance for each additional child.

You are entitled to an increase of 10 percent, at least 75 euros per month, as long as there is another child under the age of three living in the household (sibling bonus); if there are three or more children in the household, it is sufficient if at least two children have not yet reached the age of six.

You can calculate your parental allowance entitlement without obligation using the parental allowance calculator from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.

You must submit the application in writing. In it, you must specify which of the two parents would like to receive the parental allowance and when. After that, changes are only possible in exceptional cases. You and your partner must both sign the application.

You are free to divide the months in which you receive parental allowance between you. The only restriction is that one of you must take at least two months if you apply for 14 months. You can also receive parental allowance for a total of 24 or 28 months, but the monthly amount will be halved accordingly.

If there are any changes during the months of entitlement (e.g. because you have increased or reduced your weekly working hours), you must inform the relevant office.

You must have submitted your application for parental allowance no later than three months after the birth of your child in order to receive parental allowance retroactively for the entire period.

Detailed information on parental allowance can also be found on the website of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth

Parental allowance is generally counted in full as income for unemployment benefit II, social assistance and child supplement. However, parents who had earned income before the birth receive a parental allowance allowance. The parental allowance allowance corresponds to the income before the birth and amounts to a maximum of 300 euros.

Parental allowance up to the minimum amount (300 euros per month) is not taken into account when determining maintenance claims.

• Parental allowance is a family benefit for parents during the first 14 months after the birth of a child.
• It is based on the amount of lost earned income and is intended to provide parents with a financial cushion in the first few months after the birth to help them settle into family life.

Landesamt für Gesundheit und Soziales (LAGuS), Abteilung Soziales, Dezernate Versorgungsamt in Neubrandenburg, Rostock, Schwerin and Stralsund.

The pension office in whose jurisdiction you have your main place of residence is responsible.