Elterngeld Income Limit 2026: The €175,000 Threshold Explained

For children born from April 1, 2025, there's an income threshold: If your combined household income exceeded €175,000 in the calendar year before birth, you're not eligible for Elterngeld.

This replaced the previous limits: €200,000 for couples and €150,000 for singles (which applied to births from April 2024 to March 2025).

The Elterngeldstelle looks at your 'zu versteuerndes Einkommen' (zvE) from your last Steuerbescheid (tax assessment).

Important: This is not the same as your net salary. Your zvE is your gross salary minus certain deductions (like Werbungskosten, pension, health insurance), but before income tax and social security are subtracted.

The easiest way to check: look at your last Steuerbescheid — the zvE is listed there.

If you're a couple (married or unmarried, living together), both incomes are added together. If you're single, only your income counts.

Let's say your baby is born in July 2025:

Couple earning €90,000 + €90,000 = €180,000 → Not eligible

Couple earning €100,000 + €70,000 = €170,000 → Eligible

Single parent earning €175,000 → Eligible (it's the limit, not over)

Single parent earning €180,000 → Not eligible

Some families consider strategies like maximizing deductions, making pension contributions, or changing tax classes. These can legitimately reduce your taxable income.

However, be careful: artificial arrangements just to get under the limit could backfire. The Elterngeldstelle looks at your actual economic situation.

If you're close to the threshold, consulting a tax advisor (Steuerberater) might be worthwhile.