Elterngeld in English. The rules are still German.

Elterngeld is the benefit paid when a parent has less income after birth because they care for the child. You apply for it at the Elterngeldstelle.

Elternzeit is unpaid, job-protected parental leave. Employees notify their employer; it is not granted by the Elterngeldstelle.

Mutterschutz is the statutory protection around childbirth. For employees, its protection period normally begins six weeks before the expected birth and ends eight weeks after the birth, with longer periods in certain cases. Maternity benefits during this time affect the Elterngeld months of the person who gave birth.

The three systems interact, but they are not interchangeable. A plan that only looks at Elterngeld usually misses something.

The basic conditions are straightforward: you live with your child, care for the child yourself, live or usually stay in Germany, and work no more than 32 hours per week on average while receiving Elterngeld. The taxable-income limit must also be met.

Nationality is not the deciding factor. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and third-country nationals are covered by different residence rules. A residence permit that allows work can qualify, but the exact permit and its additional provisions matter. Cross-border work, posting and foreign benefits can also change which country is responsible.

So “I live in Germany” is a useful start, not always the final answer.

Basiselterngeld is normally between €300 and €1,800 per month. For parents with income before birth, the replacement rate is generally between 65% and 100%, depending on the relevant income.

But the office does not simply take the net amount from your payslip. It determines the assessment period, calculates eligible gross income and converts it into a standardised Elterngeld net using statutory deductions. Self-employment, mixed income, foreign income and months that must be excluded can change both the period and the result.

A calculator is useful for an estimate. The assumptions going into it matter more than another decimal place.

Elterngeld follows the child's life months, not calendar months. Parents can combine three variants:

• •Basiselterngeld pays the higher monthly amount for fewer months
• •ElterngeldPlus can extend one Basis month into two Plus months and is often relevant when there is income after birth
• •Partnerschaftsbonus can add Plus months when the working-hour conditions are met

Parents can generally share 12 Basis months. Two additional partner months may be available when both parents meet the loss-of-income conditions. For births covered by the current rules, both parents can generally receive Basiselterngeld at the same time for only one life month, with statutory exceptions. Maternity benefits also use Basis months for the person who gave birth.

That is why the useful question is not just “Basis or Plus?” It is who works when, what income is expected and which months should overlap.

Before birth, you can check eligibility, estimate both parents' amounts, plan the life months, collect most evidence and prepare the form. The final proof of birth and some benefit documents only exist afterwards.

After birth, you submit the application to the office responsible for the child's place of residence. There is no single national address, and states use different forms and digital processes. Elterngeld is paid retroactively for no more than three life months, so the arrival date matters. To preserve life month 1, the application must arrive during life month 4 at the latest.

The exact documents depend on the case. Proof of birth and income are common; residence documents, maternity-benefit evidence, profit records or working-hour forecasts may also be required.

Your answer may change if one of you is self-employed, had income abroad, received maternity benefits, plans to work part-time, changed tax class, is expecting multiples or had a premature birth. The same applies when another EU country may be responsible for family benefits.

None of that automatically makes the application difficult. It just means a generic example may not describe your case. Start with the detail that actually changes the calculation or eligibility; you do not need to read every possible exception.

You can use the official German forms without paying anyone. If you want English explanations beside the questions, the DIY application guides you through the form and fills the required annexes automatically. If you want someone to work through the decisions with you, you can choose a consultation instead.

The question is not whether you are capable of doing it yourself. It is how much German Elterngeld you want in your week.