Basiselterngeld is the higher monthly version. Depending on income and eligibility, it is generally €300 to €1,800 before bonuses. It can normally be used only during the first 14 life months.
Parents start with twelve shared Basis months. Two additional partner months are available if one parent's income from work is reduced in two life months. One parent can normally use at most twelve months; statutory single-parent and premature-birth rules can change that.
One Basis month can be converted into two ElterngeldPlus months. Without income after birth, the monthly Plus amount is half the Basis amount. With part-time income, it can be more than half of the corresponding Basis payment, but it remains capped at half the no-income Basis entitlement.
Plus can run until life month 32. From life month 15 onward, at least one parent must receive ElterngeldPlus without a gap.
The Partnerschaftsbonus adds two to four consecutive ElterngeldPlus months per parent. Both parents must claim it at the same time and each work an average of 24 to 32 hours per week over the child's life month.
A parent who meets one of the specific sole-claim conditions in § 4c BEEG can use the bonus alone. Being colloquially 'single' is not by itself the full legal test.
Basiselterngeld and ElterngeldPlus can be combined, and eligible Partnerschaftsbonus months come in addition to the ordinary month budget. One Basis month converts into two Plus months.
The timing rules still matter: simultaneous Basiselterngeld is normally limited to one of the first twelve life months for births from April 2024, with statutory exceptions. After life month 14, Plus must continue without a gap from at least one parent. Use our calculator to compare a concrete plan.
There are three variants: 1) Basiselterngeld (basic) – the classic form, 65% of net income, max. 14 months for both parents. 2) ElterngeldPlus – half the amount but twice as long, ideal for part-time work. 3) Partnerschaftsbonus (partnership bonus) – 2-4 additional months when both parents work 24-32 hours/week simultaneously.
Depends on your plans: Basiselterngeld is better if you don't want to work (full 65%). ElterngeldPlus is worthwhile for part-time work – monthly ElterngeldPlus can equal Basiselterngeld with part-time, but you receive it twice as long. At 50% part-time, ElterngeldPlus is usually more advantageous.
The current rules apply for births from April 1, 2024. Key changes: Income limit lowered to €175,000 (for everyone), simultaneous Basiselterngeld only for 1 month (exceptions: premature births, multiples, disability). Different rules may apply for births before April 2024.
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