Elterngeld for Adoptive and Foster Parents

You can receive Elterngeld for an adopted child and while an adoption procedure is ongoing if the statutory conditions are met. Long-term foster care alone does not generally create the same entitlement unless the child was taken in with the aim of adoption.

For an external adoption, the relevant period starts when the child is taken into your household, not on the original birth date. Stepchild adoption has special timing rules depending on whether statutory counselling is required. The final court decision is therefore not always the starting point.

Elterngeld can be received at most until the day before the adopted child's eighth birthday. Placement shortly before that date can therefore shorten the usable period.

Beyond the standard documents, you'll need:

• •Adoption documents or foster care placement decision
• •Confirmation of the date the child entered your household
• •Possibly additional documentation from youth welfare office (Jugendamt)

The Elterngeldstelle is familiar with adoption cases and can guide you through any specific requirements.