Elterngeld Berechnung

If you have applied for parental allowance, the amount of parental allowance will be calculated by the responsible parental allowance office.

If you have applied for parental allowance, the amount of parental allowance will be calculated by the responsible parental allowance office.

Parental allowance is based on the average monthly net income available to the parent providing care in the relevant assessment period before the birth. The relevant assessment period for non-self-employed persons is the last 12 months before the birth, for self-employed persons (and mixed income) the last assessment period (usually the calendar year) before the birth.

The following months are not taken into account

• with receipt of maternity benefit,
• with receipt of parental allowance for an older child up to and including the child's 14th month of life
• in which income is reduced due to pregnancy-related illness or military or civilian service obligations.

In the case of non-self-employed persons, these months are replaced by months further in the past. In the case of self-employed persons and mixed income, the previous tax assessment period (or the profit calculation periods on which this is based) is decisive upon request.

A maximum of EUR 2,770 is taken into account as the average monthly net income before the birth of your child.

Proof of income is required to determine the relevant parental allowance net income:

• for non-self-employed persons: Wage or salary statements
• for self-employed persons: tax assessment notice
• for mixed income: tax assessment notice and wage and salary statements from the year of the tax assessment notice

Other emoluments (in particular one-off payments) and tax-free income are not taken into account as income.

Deductions for taxes and social security contributions are calculated on a flat-rate basis. In addition, a monthly lump sum is deducted for income-related expenses.

Amount of the basic parental allowance:

Entitled persons receive a minimum of EUR 300.00 and a maximum of EUR 1,800.

The lost income is replaced as follows for an average monthly net income before the birth:

• from EUR 1,240 and more at 65 percent,
• from EUR 1,220 to 66 percent and
• between EUR 1,000 and EUR 1,200 at 67 percent.

There is a higher percentage for low earners.

Amount of Parental Allowance Plus:

The amount of Parental Allowance Plus is calculated in the same way as Basic Parental Allowance.

You receive parental allowance for twice as long, but at most half of the full basic parental allowance.

Sibling bonus and multiple child supplement:

You receive a sibling bonus in addition to the calculated parental allowance if and as long as an older sibling under the age of three or two older siblings under the age of six live in the household with you. The sibling bonus amounts to 10 percent of the parental allowance to which you are entitled, at least EUR 75.00 per month if you receive basic parental allowance and at least EUR 37.50 per month if you receive Parental Allowance Plus.

In the case of multiple births, the parental allowance increases by EUR 300.00 for each additional multiple child (EUR 150.00 for Parental Allowance Plus).

You can use the parental allowance calculator from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to calculate how much parental allowance you can receive without obligation.

Parental allowance calculator

• Application form (varies from federal state to federal state)
• Birth certificate with the reference "To apply for parental allowance"
• Proof of your previous income
  • for self-employed persons: Copy of the tax assessment of the previous year/assessment period
  • for mixed income: copies of the tax assessment notice from the previous year/assessment period and copies of the wage and salary statements from the year of the tax assessment notice
  • for non-self-employed persons: Copies of the wage and salary statement (mothers:12 months before the start of prenatal maternity leave, fathers: 12 months before the month of birth),
    • Certificates from your health insurance company about your total maternity benefit
    • Certificates from your employer regarding maternity benefit allowances (e.g. copy of earnings certificate from this period)
• Employer's certificate of parental leave granted Proof of income from self-employment and employment while you are receiving parental allowance
• Proof of income from self-employment and employment while you are receiving parental allowance

Further documents may be required depending on the individual case. Your employer is obliged to provide you with the required documents.

There are no fees.

You can obtain information from your local parental allowance office.

You can only apply for parental allowance after the birth of your child.

If possible, you should submit the application within the first 3 months of your child's life. This is because parental allowance is paid retroactively for a maximum of 3 months.

• Parental allowance calculation
• If you have applied for parental allowance, the amount of parental allowance will be calculated by the responsible parental allowance office.
• Parental allowance is based on the average monthly net income available to the parent providing care in the relevant assessment period before the birth. The relevant assessment period for non-self-employed persons is the last 12 months before the birth, for self-employed persons (and mixed income) the last assessment period (calendar year) before the birth.
• The following months are not taken into account
  • with receipt of maternity benefit,
  • with receipt of parental allowance for an older child up to and including the child's 14th month of life
  • in which income is reduced due to pregnancy-related illness or military or civilian service obligations.
• In the case of non-self-employed persons, these months are replaced by months further in the past. In the case of self-employed persons and those with mixed income, the previous tax assessment period (or the profit calculation periods on which this is based) is decisive on request.
• A maximum of EUR 2,770 is taken into account as the average monthly parental allowance net income before the birth of your child.
• Responsible: Parental allowance office

You must apply for parental allowance at the parental allowance office in whose jurisdiction your child is resident or habitually resident at the time of the first application.