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Elterngeld for Twins and Multiples

Elterngeld Help·Reviewed 17 August 2026

Key takeaways

  • Basiselterngeld: €300 extra per month for each additional child.
  • Only one regular Elterngeld claim per birth, but bonuses for each extra child
  • ElterngeldPlus: €150 extra per month for each additional child.

How the twins bonus works

When you have twins, triplets, or more, you don't get separate Elterngeld for each child. Instead, you get one regular Elterngeld plus a €300/month bonus for each additional baby.

Twins = €300 extra Triplets = €600 extra Quadruplets = €900 extra

Example calculation

Lisa has twins. Her Basiselterngeld before bonuses is €1,400 per month.

Basiselterngeld: €1,400 Multiple-birth bonus: +€300 Total: €1,700 per month

If a toddler at home also qualifies her for the sibling bonus, that bonus is calculated separately from the €1,400 base: 10% = €140. Her total would then be €1,840.

With ElterngeldPlus

The multiple-birth bonus is halved for ElterngeldPlus. With twins, it is €150 per month rather than €300.

€700 ElterngeldPlus + €150 multiple-birth bonus = €850 per month.

Same number of months

The bonus gives you more money, but not more months. You still have the same 14 Basiselterngeld months to share between parents. Plan accordingly!

Next steps

Frequently asked questions

Do I get more Elterngeld for twins?

Yes, for multiples there is the multiple birth supplement: €300 extra per month for each additional child with Basiselterngeld (€150 with ElterngeldPlus). So +€300 for twins, +€600 for triplets, etc. Additionally, both parents can receive Basiselterngeld simultaneously for more than one month with multiples.

Ready to check your eligibility?

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