Elterngeld: Germany's Parental Allowance Explained in English

Elterngeld (parental allowance) is a government benefit paid to parents in Germany who reduce or stop work after the birth of a child. Its purpose is to replace the income you lose while you are at home caring for your baby during the first months of life.

The legal basis is the Bundeselterngeld- und Elternzeitgesetz (BEEG). Elterngeld is administered by Elterngeldstellen (parental allowance offices) in each German federal state.

Elterngeld is not the same as Kindergeld. Kindergeld is the universal child benefit (€250/month per child) that continues until age 18. Elterngeld is a temporary income replacement that runs for the first 14 to 28 months of a child's life, depending on how you use it.

Three types of Elterngeld:

• •Basiselterngeld: The classic form. You receive 65% of your previous net income, between €300 and €1,800 per month. Parents share a budget of 14 months total. If both parents take at least 2 months each, they unlock the full 14 months (otherwise the limit is 12).

• •ElterngeldPlus: Half the monthly amount of Basis, but the months last twice as long. One Basis month equals two Plus months. This works well if you return to work part-time during the benefit period, because income is offset but the Plus amount is lower to begin with, so there is more left over.

• •Partnerschaftsbonus: 2 to 4 additional ElterngeldPlus months per parent, granted when both parents work between 24 and 32 hours per week simultaneously. The bonus months must be taken in parallel for 2, 3, or 4 consecutive months. Single parents can claim the bonus alone.

Most couples use a mix: Basiselterngeld while one parent stays home, then a switch to ElterngeldPlus and Partnerschaftsbonus when both return part-time.

The eligibility rules under §1 BEEG come down to four criteria:

1. You live in Germany You must have your main residence (Wohnsitz) or habitual abode (gewöhnlicher Aufenthalt) in Germany.

2. You care for your child yourself You must be living with the child and taking care of them in person. The child must live in your household.

3. You do not work more than 32 hours per week During each month you receive Elterngeld, you must not exceed 32 working hours per week. If you go over, you lose the benefit for that month.

4. You do not exceed the income limit For births from April 1, 2024: your taxable income (zvE) in the year before birth must be below €175,000. For couples, this is the combined zvE of both parents. For single parents, it is their individual zvE. Note: zvE is taxable income after deductions, not gross salary. It is usually lower than your gross annual salary.

Nationality and visa: German citizenship is not required. EU and EEA citizens working or living in Germany qualify automatically. Non-EU nationals need a residence permit that allows work. Permits that qualify include:

• •Blue Card (EU Blue Card)
• •Niederlassungserlaubnis (settlement permit, §9)
• •Aufenthaltserlaubnis with work authorization (family reunification visas §29/§30, etc.)
• •ICT Card and Mobile ICT Card
• •Recognized refugee status (§25 para. 1 and 2) under certain conditions

For a complete breakdown of which visa types qualify, check the eligibility guide.

The standard rate is 65% of your average net income in the 12 calendar months before the birth month (§2 BEEG). The Elterngeldstelle does not use your actual payslip net: they calculate a standardized "Elterngeld-Netto" by subtracting flat-rate taxes (based on your tax class) and a flat 21% for social contributions.

The floors and ceilings:

• •Minimum: €300/month (if you had no income or very low income)
• •Maximum: €1,800/month (capped even if 65% of your income would be higher)
• •This means parents earning above roughly €2,770 net/month get capped at €1,800

Example: If your average net income in the 12 months before birth was €2,400/month, your Basiselterngeld would be roughly €1,560/month (65% × €2,400).

Low-income bonus (§2 Abs. 2 BEEG): If your net income was below €1,240/month, the replacement rate increases above 65% in three tiers:

• •€1,200 to €1,240: rate rises from 65% to 67% (0.1 percentage points per €2 below €1,240)
• •€1,000 to €1,200: flat 67%
• •Below €1,000: rate rises from 67% upward (0.1 percentage points per €2 below €1,000), up to 100% at €340 or below

Sibling bonus (Geschwisterbonus): You get a 10% top-up (minimum €75 for Basis, €37.50 for Plus) if you already have children under 3 in the household, or two or more children under 6.

Multiple births: For twins, triplets, or more: an extra €300 per additional child per month on top of the standard calculation.

For self-employed parents: The assessment period is usually the last completed tax year before birth, not the 12-month calendar period. The office uses your tax assessment (Steuerbescheid). Timing matters: if you earn significantly more in one year versus another, the year used for calculation can make a large difference.

Use the calculator to see your personal Elterngeld estimate based on your actual income.

This is where most parents make mistakes that cost them thousands of euros. The rules are not complicated once you understand the structure.

The shared budget: For couples, the total budget is 14 Basiselterngeld months (or 28 ElterngeldPlus months). If only one parent takes leave, the budget is 12 months. The extra 2 months ("Partnermonate") are unlocked when both parents take at least 2 months each.

Basis vs Plus: when to use which

• •Use Basiselterngeld for months when you have zero or very low income. The 65% rate gives you the maximum replacement.
• •Use ElterngeldPlus for months when you work part-time and earn income. The offset formula is gentler with Plus, because the base is lower. One Basis month converts to 2 Plus months, so you stretch the benefit window.

Example plan for a couple: Mother: Months 1 to 12 Basiselterngeld (full leave). Father: Months 3 to 4 Basiselterngeld (the 2 Partnermonate). Total: 14 months used. Mother receives approximately €1,500/month for 12 months. Father receives approximately €1,200/month for 2 months.

The 3-month retroactivity rule: Elterngeld is not automatic. You have to apply, and you can only receive it retroactively for the 3 months before your application date. If you apply when your baby is 5 months old, you forfeit months 1 and 2 permanently. Apply early.

Months that can be excluded from the income calculation: If you received Mutterschaftsgeld, Elterngeld for an older sibling, or were on sick leave due to pregnancy-related illness during the 12-month assessment period, those months can be excluded and replaced with earlier months. This often significantly increases the calculated income, because the excluded months are counted as zero.

Partnerschaftsbonus rules: Both parents must work 24 to 32 hours per week simultaneously during the bonus months. The hours are checked strictly: if either parent falls outside this range in any month, that month's bonus is forfeit and may need to be repaid. Plan carefully before committing.

Where to apply: You apply to the Elterngeldstelle of the federal state where you live. Each state has its own office (sometimes multiple offices by region). There is no single national authority.

When to apply: Apply as soon as your child is born. Because of the 3-month retroactivity window, the latest you can apply without losing any months is when your baby is 3 months old. Earlier is always better.

Documents you will need:

• •Birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) — the official copy issued for Elterngeld purposes, not just the hospital paperwork
• •Payslips (Lohnabrechungen) for the 12 months before the birth month
• •Mutterschaftsgeld certificate from your Krankenkasse
• •Employer certificate (Arbeitgeberbescheinigung) confirming your planned leave start and hours
• •Residence permit if you are not an EU citizen
• •For self-employed: tax assessment (Steuerbescheid) for the relevant year

Both parents must sign the application, even if only one of you is applying for Elterngeld at that point. The exception is single parents who check the appropriate box in the application form.

Processing time: Typically 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the state and current workload. If your application is incomplete, it takes longer. Submit everything at once if possible. Elterngeld is paid retroactively from your chosen start month, so a delay in processing does not mean you lose money — it just means you wait longer to receive it.

Provisional vs final decision: You may receive a provisional Bescheid (decision) first, especially if your tax assessment is not yet available. A final decision follows once all documents are verified. If the final amount is higher, you receive a back payment; if lower, you may be asked to repay a difference.

Our application guide walks through the full process in English, step by step.

Germany made significant changes to Elterngeld in April 2024. If your child was born on or after April 1, 2024, these rules apply to you.

Income limit reduced to €175,000 (zvE)

The most impactful change: the income ceiling was reduced to €175,000 taxable income (zvE). For couples, this is the combined zvE of both parents. For single parents, it is their individual zvE. Previously, the limit was €300,000 for couples and €250,000 for singles. If your (combined) zvE exceeds €175,000, you are not eligible for Elterngeld.

Important: zvE (zu versteuerndes Einkommen) is taxable income after deductions, not gross salary. It is typically lower than your gross annual salary. You can find your zvE on your Steuerbescheid (tax assessment).

Example: A parent with a gross salary of €200,000 may have a zvE of €170,000 after professional deductions, and would still qualify.

Simultaneous Basiselterngeld capped at 1 month

Under the old rules, couples could claim Basiselterngeld simultaneously (both parents at the same time) for multiple months. Now, simultaneous Basis is limited to 1 month. Exceptions: premature births, multiples, and children with disabilities.

This rule primarily affects couples who wanted to overlap their Basis months. The workaround for most couples is to stagger: one parent uses Basis while the other uses Plus, and vice versa.

ElterngeldPlus simultaneous use: unchanged

Both parents can still receive ElterngeldPlus simultaneously without limit. The Partnerschaftsbonus also remains unchanged.

For births before April 1, 2024: The previous rules apply. The income limit was €300,000 for couples and €250,000 for singles. If you are in this category, check with the old rules or use our guide, which handles both rule sets.

These two terms often get confused because they sound similar and usually happen at the same time.

• •Elterngeld is the money: the government benefit that replaces your income for up to 14 months (or 28 months with Plus). You apply for it at the Elterngeldstelle.

• •Elternzeit is the leave: the job-protected parental leave for up to 3 years per child. You notify your employer, not the government. Your employer must hold your position.

The two are legally separate. You do not have to be on Elternzeit to receive Elterngeld, and you do not have to receive Elterngeld to take Elternzeit. However, in practice, most parents use both together.

Key practical difference: Elternzeit requires at least 7 weeks' notice to your employer (for leave before the child's 3rd birthday) or 13 weeks' notice (for leave between the 3rd and 8th birthday). Elterngeld has no advance notice requirement — you apply to the government office at any time.

If you plan to take parental leave, give your employer written notice of your Elternzeit as soon as you know your plans. If you are also applying for Elterngeld, that application goes separately to the Elterngeldstelle.