Elterngeld: Parental Allowance in Germany

When you have a baby in Germany, the government helps you financially so you can take time off work to care for your child. This benefit is called Elterngeld (pronounced "EL-tern-gelt"). It literally translates to "parents' money."

Elterngeld replaces part of your salary for up to 14 months after your baby is born. The idea is simple: you shouldn't have to choose between your income and spending time with your newborn.

There are two related but different things you'll hear about:

• •Elterngeld = the money you receive from the government
• •Elternzeit = the time off work your employer must give you (up to 3 years, job protected)

Most parents use both together: they take Elternzeit (the leave) and receive Elterngeld (the money) during that time.

The amount depends on what you earned before your baby was born. Under the current 2026 rules, the government looks at your average net salary from the last 12 months before birth (the Bemessungszeitraum) and replaces a percentage of it:

• •If you earned more than €1,240/month net: you get 65%
• •If you earned €1,000 to €1,240/month net: you get 67%
• •If you earned less than €1,000/month net: you get up to 100%

There's a floor and a ceiling: every parent gets at least €300/month, even with no prior income. The maximum is €1,800/month, no matter how high your salary was.

This is where it gets interesting. Germany doesn't just offer one flat payment. You can choose between three options, and picking the right one can mean thousands of euros more for your family.

The short version: if you're staying home full-time, pick Basiselterngeld. If you're planning to work part-time, ElterngeldPlus often pays more in total. You can also mix them.

The application process can feel intimidating, especially when the official forms are in German. That's exactly why we built our step-by-step guide: it walks you through everything in English and generates your pre-filled application.

• When to do what:
• •During pregnancy: Start gathering documents and filling out what you can
• •After birth: Add the birth certificate and submit everything
• •Expect 4 to 8 weeks for processing

Important timing rule: Elterngeld is only paid retroactively for 3 months. If you apply in month 5 after birth, you lose month 1. So apply as early as possible.

• Documents you'll need:
• •Birth certificate (you'll get this from the Standesamt after birth)
• •Your last 12 payslips
• •A letter from your employer confirming your planned working hours
• •Your ID or passport
• •Tax IDs for you and your child

When does the money arrive? After your application is approved, you'll receive your Elterngeld monthly, usually around the middle of the month. The first payment is retroactive, covering all months from birth until approval. Most parents see their first payment 6 to 10 weeks after submitting a complete application.

You and your partner share a budget of 14 Basiselterngeld months. How you divide them is up to you, with a few rules:

• •One parent can take at most 12 months alone
• •The other parent must take at least 2 months (the so-called "partner months") to unlock the full 14
• •You can take months at the same time or one after the other

The most popular split is 12 + 2: one parent takes 12 months, the other takes 2. But some families prefer an equal split (7 + 7) or have both parents home at the same time for the first few months.

Here's where ElterngeldPlus makes it flexible: each Basiselterngeld month can be converted into 2 ElterngeldPlus months. So your 14-month budget can stretch across 28 calendar months if you choose all Plus.

Depending on your family situation, you might get more than the base amount:

• •Twins or triplets? You receive an extra €300/month for each additional child. Triplets means +€600/month on top of your regular Elterngeld.

• •Already have a young child? If you have a sibling under 3 (or two under 6), you get the Geschwisterbonus: 10% extra, at least €75/month.

• •Baby born early? Premature births qualify for up to 4 additional months, depending on how early your baby arrived.

• •Single parent? You get all 14 months yourself, no partner months required. You can even claim the Partnerschaftsbonus on your own.

• •Still studying? Good news: study hours don't count toward the 32-hour work limit. You can study full-time and receive Elterngeld.

• •Self-employed or freelancing? You're eligible. Your income is calculated differently (based on your last tax return instead of payslips), but the benefit works the same way.

Elterngeld is the biggest financial benefit for new parents, but it's not the only one. Here are the other programs you should apply for:

• •Kindergeld (child benefit): €250/month per child, paid until they turn 18. This is completely separate from Elterngeld. You get both. Apply at the Familienkasse after birth.

• •Mutterschaftsgeld (maternity pay): If you're employed, you receive your full salary during Mutterschutz (6 weeks before and 8 weeks after birth). This is paid by your health insurance and employer. It gets offset against Elterngeld, but you don't lose money overall.

• •Elternzeit (parental leave): Your employer must hold your job for up to 3 years. This is free to take but unpaid beyond your Elterngeld months.

• •Health insurance: If you have public insurance (GKV), it usually stays free during Elternzeit. If you have private insurance (PKV), you keep paying your premiums.