Title:
What is Elterngeld?
What is Elterngeld?
Elterngeld is a financial benefit provided by the German state to parents after the birth of their child. It is designed to help them take time off to care for the child and to partially compensate for loss of income caused by stopping work or switching to part-time work.
1. Basiselterngeld (basic parental allowance)
Paid for up to 12 months per parent, or 14 months in total if both parents are involved in childcare and share the months.
Amount: between €300 and €1,800 per month, depending on net income before the birth.
The benefit is reduced the higher your income is during the Elterngeld period.
2. ElterngeldPlus
Can be used after (or instead of parts of) Basiselterngeld.
Paid for a longer period: up to 24 months instead of 12.
Particularly suitable if you work part-time (Teilzeit) while receiving Elterngeld.
The amount is roughly half of what Basiselterngeld would be – but paid over twice the period.
Part-time work is allowed, provided that:
you do not work more than 32 hours per week
(until mid-2024 the limit was 30 hours and was later increased to 32), and
working part-time does not exclude you from receiving Basiselterngeld or ElterngeldPlus.
The benefit amount is calculated based on the difference between your income before and after the birth.
| Aspect | Basiselterngeld | ElterngeldPlus |
|---|---|---|
| Payment period | 12–14 months | Up to 24 months |
| Part-time work | Possible (≤ 32 hours/week) | Encouraged / specifically supported |
| Benefit amount | Higher | Around 50% of the Basiselterngeld amount |
| Main purpose | Compensate for income lost due to full-time childcare | Support parents who work part-time and care for their child at the same time |
The mother takes 12 months of Basiselterngeld.
The father takes 2 additional partner months (Partnerbonus).
Afterwards, both switch to ElterngeldPlus and work part-time, so that they can extend financial support over several additional months.
The lower your income after the birth (for example because of part-time work), the higher your Elterngeld benefit usually is.
You apply for Elterngeld at the responsible Elterngeldstelle (parental benefit office) in your city or district.
Plan early, especially if both parents want to share parental leave and Elterngeld between them.
Birth certificate of the child
Proof of income before and after the birth
Employment contract or proof of part-time work
Proof of health insurance
IBAN (bank account number) for payment
The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. However, errors or incomplete details may still occur, or some information may not yet be finally confirmed. Please treat the information in this article as an initial orientation only and always consult the competent authorities and official bodies for binding and up-to-date information.
